WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – A newly released report shows the nation’s

farmers have planted more of their land in winter wheat crops than

a year ago.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Wednesday

that seeded acres are up 10 percent to a total of 41 million acres

nationwide.

The agency attributed the increase to an early harvest of other

crops in the fall and higher wheat prices.

Kansas, as usual, leads the nation in planted wheat acres with

8.8 million acres. The state’s plantings are up 5 percent from a

year ago.

Hard red winter wheat plantings are up 4 percent with increases

in all producing states except Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.

The largest acreage jump came in Kansas, which is up 400,000

acres. South Dakota acreage increased 300,000 acres