Nebraska Winter Wheat Plantings Fall in 2026

By Scout Nelson

Nebraska is seeing major changes in crop acreage in 2026, with winter wheat reaching record low levels. Corn acres are also declining slightly, while soybean acreage is increasing across the state.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s June 30, 2026, Acreage Report provides estimates of planted and harvested acres for more than 20 major crops across the country. The report helps farmers, businesses, and market participants understand expected production and possible changes in supply.

Crop acreage can have an important effect on market prices. University of Nebraska-Lincoln agricultural economics professor Cory Walters explains that acreage reports often influence market expectations.

“The market watches the report closely, and prices respond accordingly,” Walters said. “The acreage report is a big deal as it lays the path for total production. It is about impossible to anticipate the price movement before the report.”

Weather conditions also play an important role in this year’s crop outlook. Corn and soybean planting began earlier than the five-year average in many parts of the country. However, a warm spring followed by a late cold period damaged several agricultural areas, with winter wheat among the crops affected.

Drought is another concern. More than 60% of the continental United States experienced drought conditions, reaching its highest level since 2022. Tornadoes, wildfires, and other severe weather events also damaged farmland in several areas.

In Nebraska, producers expect to harvest about 580,000 acres of winter wheat for grain in 2026. This is down from 805,000 acres in 2025 and represents a record low. Planted winter wheat acreage also falls to 900,000 acres, down 50,000 acres from the previous year.

Corn acreage declines from 10.75 million acres in 2025 to 10.5 million acres in 2026. Nebraska’s corn plantings represent about 11% of total U.S. corn acreage.

Soybeans move in the opposite direction. Nebraska farmers plant about 5.1 million acres of soybeans in 2026, with slightly more than 5 million acres expected to be harvested. This represents about 5.97% of U.S. soybean acres expected to be harvested.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-dleonis