July 10, 2026
Harvest is nearing completion across most of Eastern Colorado, making this our final harvest report of 2026. As of today, we estimate that Colorado’s 2026 wheat harvest is 80% complete, well ahead of the 5-year average of 18%, according to USDA-NASS.
Scattered thunderstorms caused a few minor delays this week, but temperatures in the low to mid-90s allowed harvest to progress rapidly. As mentioned in last week’s report, Colorado’s 2026 wheat crop has had to endure just about every hardship imaginable – particularly extreme drought and freeze damage. All of Eastern Colorado continues to see variable yields, with dryland yields continuing to range anywhere from 5 to 40 bushels per acre. Thankfully, quality has continued to hang on, with average test weight around 59 pounds per bushel, and average protein around 12.5%.
According to today’s USDA-NASS Crop Production Report, Colorado is estimated to produce 24.3 million bushels of winter wheat, with an average yield of 19 bushels per harvested acre based on conditions as of July 1st. This is a 27.6% decrease from the 33.6 million bushels estimated in NASS’s June Crop Production Report. Unfortunately, this decrease is no surprise to our staff, as the extent of the freeze damage did not become apparent until mid-June. If this estimate holds, it would mark the state’s smallest wheat crop since 1965.
July 2, 2026
Colorado’s 2026 wheat harvest started about 10 days ago. According to the June 29th USDA-NASS Crop Progress Report, Colorado was 32% harvested. This is well ahead of the five-year average of 5%. The overall crop condition was rated 9% good, 18% fair, and 73% poor-very poor.
Colorado’s 2026 wheat crop, after getting off to a great start last fall, has endured nearly every hardship imaginable—from drought and freeze damage to viruses, mites, wheat stem sawfly, and hail. According to the June 11th USDA-NASS Crop Production Report, Colorado is estimated to produce 33.6 million bushels, with an estimated average yield of 21 bushels per harvested acre. If this estimate holds, it would mark the state’s smallest wheat crop since 1965. The next USDA-NASS Crop Production Report will be released on July 10th. Our staff is expecting the NASS estimate to decrease after listening to harvest reports that have come into the office.
As mentioned earlier, drought and freeze damage have had a major impact on the crop. Abandonment is anticipated to be high. The NASS report released June 30th put abandonment at 38%, the worst since 1967. Fields that appear to have a thick stand sometimes turn out to have few kernels in the heads. Yields all across Eastern Colorado are variable. There are reports of dryland fields averaging anywhere from 5 to 40 bushels per acre. The bright spot will be the irrigated wheat, which will obviously have faced less damage from drought, but also less freeze damage. Crop quality has hung on so far, with average test weight at about 59 pounds per bushel and average protein at about 13%.
Temperatures are expected to be in the low to mid 90s for the next week, with very little chance of moisture, meaning things will most likely progress rapidly. The next harvest report will be released on July 10th.