Texas wheat producers are wrapping up one of the most difficult growing seasons in recent years, with drought, extreme heat, disease and insect pressure combining to reduce yields across much of the state.
More than 90% of the 2025-2026 wheat harvest has been completed, with only a small portion of the crop remaining in the northern Panhandle. While a few areas reported strong production, most growers experienced below-average yields, including irrigated fields that typically perform well.
Growing conditions varied widely throughout the season. Some producers benefited from timely rainfall during planting, while others waited until February for enough moisture to establish a crop. As the season progressed, drought intensified across much of Texas, and wheat fields faced additional pressure from viral diseases, fungal infections and insect infestations.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, only 1.6 million acres are expected to be harvested for grain out of approximately 5.5 million acres planted statewide. That represents just 29% of planted acreage and marks the lowest harvested wheat acreage in Texas since 2022. Statewide production is forecast at 45 million bushels with an average yield of 28 bushels per acre.
The best dryland wheat was reported around the Dallas-Fort Worth area, while a small region near Brady also produced above-average yields. Much of the High Plains and Rolling Plains, however, suffered significant losses as hot, dry weather arrived early in the spring. Some areas experienced temperatures approaching 100 degrees as early as late March, causing many dryland wheat fields to fail before beneficial spring rains arrived.
Even irrigated wheat struggled in parts of the High Plains. Producers reported widespread cases of wheat streak mosaic virus and triticum mosaic virus, while other regions battled leaf rust, Hessian fly infestations and barley yellow dwarf virus. Heavy disease pressure and insect damage added to the challenges already created by drought and heat.
Despite the difficult production year, wheat prices have improved slightly. The USDA Risk Management Agency announced the 2026 harvest price for conventional winter wheat in Texas and Oklahoma at $6.28 per bushel, compared to $5.37 last year. Cash wheat prices have generally ranged between $5.20 and $5.90 per bushel, although higher costs for fertilizer, fuel and other inputs continue to keep profit margins tight for many producers.
Across Texas, producers continue to face challenging weather conditions heading into the next planting season. While scattered rainfall has provided temporary relief in some areas, drought remains a concern in many agricultural regions, and Extension specialists are encouraging growers to prepare for continued disease and pest management as they plan this fall’s wheat crop.
