Nebraska is on track for record-low winter wheat acres both planted and harvested this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s June 30 Acreage Report. The report also indicates corn acres planted are down slightly, while soybean acres planted are up.
The annual report represents the total amount of acres planted and/or harvested by state for over 20 major crops and compares them to historical data.
Insights for Producers
Prior to the report coming out, it is very difficult to predict the future market prices for the year, according to Cory Walters, an agricultural economics professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
“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.”
Corn and soybean acres were planted earlier than the five-year average throughout the U.S. According to the report, a warm spring followed by a late cold snap created harm in many agricultural sectors, especially the winter wheat crop. Drought coverage across the continental United States topped 60% for the first time since 2022. Severe weather also had a big impact on farmland, including tornadoes and wildfires, causing widespread destruction.
Nebraska Statistics
The downward trend in acres planted and expected acres harvested in most major crops grown in Nebraska matches the national pattern. This includes corn, wheat, and dry edible beans. Soybeans are an exception, as acres planted and expected acres harvested increased in 2026.
Nebraska producers expect to harvest a record-low 580,000 acres of winter wheat for grain in 2026, down from 805,000 acres in 2025, according to the report. Planted acres also hit a record low, falling 50,000 acres to 900,000.
Corn acreage has also decreased in Nebraska, with 10.75 million acres planted in 2025 and 10.5 million acres planted in 2026. Corn acres planted in the state in 2026 represent 11% of all U.S. corn acres planted.
While wheat and corn acres planted are down, soybean acreage in Nebraska and throughout the country is up. There were 5.1 million acres of soybeans planted in the state in 2026, and just over 5 million acres are forecast to be harvested in Nebraska. This represents 5.97% of soybean acres forecast to be harvested throughout the entire United States.
Summary
Overall, planted acreage throughout Nebraska is down in 2026, attributed to a large decrease in wheat acres and a slight decrease in corn acres, according to the report. Soybeans are the exception, with a slight increase in acres planted.
“Information is vital in making farm management decisions. This report reveals information on where the market is headed,” Walters said. “Producers should incorporate this information into their marketing and risk management plans.”
Quick Stats
- Nebraska corn acres planted are down from 10.75 million acres in 2025 to 10.5 million acres in 2026
- Nebraska accounts for 11% of corn acres planted in the United States
- Nebraska soybean acres planted are up from 4.85 million acres in 2025 to 5.1 million acres in 2026
- Nebraska wheat acres planted are down from 950,000 acres in 2025 to 900,000 acres in 2026
- Nebraska wheat acres harvested for grain are down from 805,000 acres in 2025 to 580,000 acres in 2026
- Nebraska dry edible bean acres planted are down from 106,000 acres in 2025 to 95,000 acres in 2026
- U.S. corn acres planted are down 3%, with 95.3 million acres planted in 2026
- U.S. corn acres planted in 2026 represent the fourth-highest planted acreage in the country since 1944
- U.S. soybean acres planted are up 5%, with 85.4 million acres in 2026
- U.S. wheat acres planted are down 6%, with 42.7 million acres in 2026
If you are interested in reading more or finding data on other states and crops, find the report on the USDA’s website or at https://esmis.nal.usda.gov/publication/acreage.
This article is based on the USDA's June 30 Acreage Report. The USDA revised several acreage estimates in its August 12 Crop Production report, including a reduction in Nebraska corn acres.
Morgan Bonifas is a communications student intern with the Center for Agricultural Proitability.
