News

Wheat planted area 6% below 2025

Farmers planted even fewer wheat acres than expected in 2026.

Wheat acres are the lowest on record at 42.74 million acres, with farmers planting fewer acres to both the spring and winter crops that what was projected in March, now pegged at 31.52 million and 9.39 million acres, respectively. The total is 6% lower than a year ago, with winter wheat down 5% on the year and spring wheat 6% lower.

By type, the USDA has hard red winter at 22.4 million acres, soft red winter at 5.54 million, and white winter 3.55 million acres, with 8.75 million acres of spring wheat planted to hard red spring.

Planting was likely limited by the ample global supply, relatively slow demand for U.S. wheat, and, in some areas, weather issues.

The numbers were all below what analysts were expecting heading into this round of numbers.

The total U.S. acreage mix is currently estimated at 309.639 million acres, 312,000 less than the prior projection.

The USDA’s updated supply, demand, and production numbers are out July 10^th.

Comparisons for Brownfield states:

Arkansas: Winter Wheat: 90,000 acres, compared to 110,000 in 2025

Illinois: Winter Wheat: 720,000 acres, compared to 780,000 in 2025

Indiana: Winter Wheat: 300,000 acres, compared to 320,000 in 2025

Kansas: Winter Wheat: 6.9 million acres, compared to 7.3 million in 2025

Kentucky: Winter Wheat: 430,000 acres, compared to 490,000 in 2025

Michigan: Winter Wheat:  500,000 acres, compared to 530,000 in 2025

Minnesota: Spring Wheat: 1.03 million acres, compared to 1.15 million in 2025

Missouri: Winter Wheat: 580,000 acres, compared to 640,000 in 2025

Nebraska: Winter Wheat: 900,000 acres, compared to 950,000 in 2025

South Dakota: Winter Wheat: 660,000 acres, compared to 780,000 in 2025; Spring Wheat: 630,000 acres, compared to 680,000 a year ago

Tennessee: Winter Wheat: 255,000 acres, compared to 345,000 in 2025

Wisconsin: Winter Wheat: 245,000 acres, compared to 300,000 in 2025