Winter Wheat Bushels Per Acre Seed Calculator
Calculate winter wheat seeding rate in pounds per acre from a target live seed rate, with pure live seed and bag counts for the field.
How This Calculation Works
Bulk pounds per acre equals the target live seeds per acre divided by seeds per pound, then divided by the pure live seed fraction. Winter wheat has about 12,000 seeds per pound, so 1.2 million live seeds per acre needs about 105 pounds of bulk seed at 94 percent PLS. Dividing by 60 gives bushels per acre.
Field Calibration & Rate Reference Chart
| Species | Seeds/lb | Target seeds/ac | Bulk lb/ac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall fescue | 227,000 | 3,000,000 | 15 |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 1,100,000 | 1,500,000 | 2 |
| Perennial ryegrass | 227,000 | 4,000,000 | 20 |
| Bermudagrass hulled | 1,900,000 | 2,000,000 | 1 |
| Bermudagrass unhulled | 800,000 | 2,000,000 | 3 |
| Alfalfa | 200,000 | 5,000,000 | 28 |
| Winter wheat | 12,000 | 1,200,000 | 105 |
| Soybean | 2,800 | 160,000 | 63 |
| Corn | 1,400 | 34,000 | 27 |
| Cereal rye | 18,000 | 1,200,000 | 73 |
Common Questions
How many bushels of wheat seed per acre?
Rates run about 1.5 to 2 bushels per acre, but the accurate approach is to target 1.2 to 1.5 million seeds per acre and convert using the seed's seeds-per-pound count. Seed size varies, so bushels alone can mislead. Adjust upward for late planting.
How many seeds per pound does winter wheat have?
Winter wheat has roughly 12,000 seeds per pound, though the figure varies with variety and growing conditions. Use the seed lot's actual count when available. The count converts a seed-per-acre target into pounds.
Should I increase the seeding rate for late-planted wheat?
Yes, later planting gives the crop less time to tiller, so a higher seed rate compensates. Increase the rate by about 1 percent for each day past the fly-free date. This helps maintain head counts.
Do I need to treat wheat seed?
Seed treatment protects against soilborne diseases and insects, especially in no-till or early-planted fields. Many seed lots come treated. Check the tag and treat if needed before planting.