WASHINGTON — U.S. winter wheat seeded in 2014 for harvest in 2015 was estimated at 40,452,000 acres, down 1,947,000 acres, or 5%, from 42,399,000 acres seeded for harvest in 2014, the U.S.D.A. said today in its annual Winter Wheat Seedings report. The U.S.D.A. number was 5% below the average trade estimate of 42.7 million acres.

Area seeded to hard red winter wheat was estimated at 29.5 million acres, down 3% from a year ago and 5% below trade expectations, which averaged 31.2 million acres.

“Growers in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas planted significantly less acreage this year while large acreage increases are estimated in Nebraska and South Dakota,” the U.S.D.A. said. Seedings in Kansas and Texas each were estimated down 2% from a year earlier, Oklahoma down 4%, Montana down 8% and Colorado down 9%, while Nebraska was up 10% and South Dakota was up 22%.

Soft red winter wheat seeded area was estimated at about 7.5 million acres, down 12% from a year earlier and 7% below the average trade expectation of 8.1 million acres.

“Acreage decreases from last year are expected in most soft red winter states with significant acreage decreases estimated in Illinois and Missouri,” the U.S.D.A. said. Seedings in Illinois and Missouri each were estimated down 26% from the prior year.

White winter wheat seedings were estimated at 3.48 million acres, up 2% from last year and slightly below the average trade expectation of 3.5 million acres.