WASHINGTON — U.S. winter wheat seeded in 2010 for harvest in 2011 was estimated at 40,990,000 acres, up 3,655,000 acres, or 10%, from the 37,335,000 acres seeded for harvest in 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its annual Winter Wheat Seedings report this morning.

Area seeded to hard red winter wheat was estimated at 29.6 million acres, up 1.05 million acres, or 4%, from a year ago but 5% below trade expectations, which averaged near 30.2 million acres.

Soft red winter wheat seeded area was estimated at 7.76 million acres, up 2.49 million acres, or 47%, from a year earlier and about 7% above average trade expectations of 7.2 million acres.

White winter wheat seedings were estimated at 3.66 million acres, up 145,000 acres, or 4%, from last year but 4% below average trade expectations of 3.5 million acres.