WASHINGTON — U.S. winter wheat seeded in 2011 for harvest in 2012 was estimated at 41,947,000 acres, up 1,301,000 acres, or 3%, from 40,646,000 acres seeded for harvest in 2011, the U.S.D.A. said today in its annual Winter Wheat Seedings report. The U.S.D.A. number was above the average trade estimate near 41 million acres.

Area seeded to hard red winter wheat was estimated at 30.1 million acres, up 6% from a year ago and 2% above trade expectations, which averaged near 29.6 million acres.

Soft red winter wheat seeded area was estimated at 8.37 million acres, down 2% from a year earlier but 9% above the average trade expectation of 7.7 million acres.

White winter wheat seedings were estimated at 3.49 million acres, down 3% from last year and 6% below the average trade expectation of 3.7 million acres.

Durum seedings in Arizona and California were estimated at 230,000 acres, up 15% from a year earlier.