Total US winter wheat area for harvest in 2026 is little changed from a year ago but still came in above market expectations, according to the USDA’s Winter Wheat and Canola Seedings report on Monday.
The USDA estimated total national winter wheat seeded area at 32.99 million acres, down less than 1% from last year’s 33.153 million and 2% below 2024. The figure was slightly higher than the average trade guess of 32.4 million acres, even though it represents a decline of about 163,000 acres from last year’s level.
By class, Hard Red Winter (HRW) seeded area for 2026 is estimated at 23.5 million acres, down slightly from 2025. The USDA noted that Oklahoma recorded the largest increase in HRW acreage, while Montana saw the most significant decline. Soft Red Winter (SRW) wheat acreage was estimated at 6.14 million acres, up less than 1% from a year earlier, with Ohio posting the largest increase and Tennessee the largest decrease. White Winter wheat acreage fell more sharply, down 5% from 2025 to 3.36 million acres, as producers in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington reduced plantings.
At the state level, Kansas — the largest winter wheat-producing state — planted an estimated 7.2 million acres, down 100,000 acres or 1% from last year. Oklahoma winter wheat planted area jumped 16% to 4.8 million acres, while Montana fell 11% to 1.9 million. Texas winter wheat acreage was reported 2% higher at 5.6 million acres, while Colorado acres declined 5% to 2 million acres.
In the Soft Red state of Michigan, producers seeded an estimated 550,000 acres, up 4% from last year, while Ohio’s planted area surged 12% to 640,000 acres.
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