Wheat Foundation Names 24 National Yield Winners
The 2026 National Wheat Yield Contest recognized 24 national winners from 10 states, with Top-Quality Award winners to follow in January 2027.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Agriculture
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The National Wheat Foundation announced 24 national winners of the 2026 National Wheat Yield Contest, who achieved an average yield of 146.4 bushels per acre. The contest also recognized 71 state winners from 22 states.
Why it matters
The contest shares management practices and technologies among top wheat producers, aiming to improve the U.S. wheat crop. Fewer entries than in past years were attributed to drought and reduced wheat acreage.
The 24 national winners from 10 states averaged 146.4 bushels per acre, while 71 state winners from 22 states averaged 134.72 bushels per acre in traditional categories. Four national winners were recognized in the pilot digital yield category.
The players
National Wheat Foundation
The national organization that administers the National Wheat Yield Contest to recognize and share practices among top U.S. wheat producers.
The details
The contest, established in 2016, recognized four national winners in the pilot digital yield category and includes Montana and Washington, each with four national winners. Drought and reduced wheat acreage contributed to fewer entries than in past years.
Timeline
2016: The National Wheat Yield Contest was established to improve the U.S. wheat crop.
November 2, 2026: The National Wheat Foundation announced the 2026 national winners.
Mid-January 2027: Top-Quality Award winners will be announced.
March 2027: National winners will attend Commodity Classic in New Orleans.
Industry Landscape
The 2026 contest extends the National Wheat Yield Contest, established in 2016 to improve the U.S. wheat crop, and its national and state recognition of top yields. Reduced entries this year, linked to drought and lower wheat acreage, mark a departure from the program's prior participation levels.
Producers can review the complete national and state winners lists to compare management practices and yield results. The Top-Quality Award announcement in January 2027 will indicate which winning wheat meets grain, flour and finished-product quality standards.
The takeaway
The contest's records show how top producers achieve high yields, and the upcoming Top-Quality Award results will add insight into wheat quality. Producers interested in these practices can consult the published winners lists.
What happens next
The Top-Quality Award winners will be announced in mid-January 2027, and national winners will attend Commodity Classic in New Orleans in March 2027.
Further reading
Explore more on Agriculture to see how wheat producers and industry programs are shaping crop performance.
More information
Review the complete national and state winners lists on the National Wheat Foundation website.
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