Slight decline in winter wheat acres

WASHINGTON — The winter wheat planted area for harvest is estimated to drop slightly, according to the Jan. 12 winter wheat and canola seedings report.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service reported the nation’s winter wheat planted area for harvest in 2026 is estimated at 33 million acres nationwide, down less than 1% from 2025 and 2% lower than 2024.

Seeding of the 2026 acreage was underway in early September and planting reached 97% complete by Nov. 23. Emergence was at 87% complete on Nov. 23.

Hard red winter wheat seeded area is expected to total 23.5 million acres, down slightly from 2025. The largest increase in planted acreage is estimated in Oklahoma, while Montana is estimated to have the largest decrease.

Soft red winter wheat seeded area totals 6.14 million acres, up less than 1% from 2025. Compared with last year, the largest acreage increase is expected in Ohio, while the largest acreage decrease is expected in Tennessee.

White winter wheat seeded area totals 3.36 million acres, down 5% from 2025. Idaho, Oregon and Washington are expecting decreased acreage.

Durum wheat seedings in Arizona and California for 2026 harvest are estimated at a combined 75,000 acres, up 15% from 2025, but 11% below 2024.

This report contains the first estimate of 2026 canola seedings for Kansas and Oklahoma. Acres seeded in Kansas and Oklahoma for 2026 harvest are estimated at a combined 29,000 acres, an increase of 2,500 acres from 2025.

‘I’ States

Winter wheat seedings in Illinois are projected at 730 million acres, down 6% from the 780,000 acres in 2025. Prairie State farmers planted 770,000 acres in 2024.

Indiana’s winter wheat seedings are the same year-over-year with 320,000 acres, 10,000 acres higher than 2024.