Michigan's Wheat Harvest Sets New Record In 2025

Jan 05, 2026

By Brianna Edgar

New reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have listed Michigan as one of the top producers of wheat in 2025, with the state sitting at number four in overall wheat production in the nation.

The harvest yielded over 44 million bushels, or 90 bushels-per-acre. This is nearly double the national average and an new overall record in state recorded history, according to the Michigan Wheat Program.

Michigan State University Extension Wheat Specialist Dennis Pennington said the high yield can be attributed to a good growing year with few downfalls.

"We have a unique climate here in the Great Lakes state that allows us to grow good quality, high yielding wheat," Pennington told WCMU. "Growers were able to get the crop planted on time, we had very little winter kill, there were some pockets of drought that were temporary here and there, but overall it didn't impact the crop that much."

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Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.