Wyoming Wheat Yield & Precision Agriculture Data 2026
Wyoming Wheat yield reached 15.0 bu/acre in 2026 — 33.1 bu/ac below the US average of 48.1 bu/ac. State-level estimates, sourced directly from USDA NASS.
Wheat yield trend
Wyoming vs the US average, 2020–2026 (7 years of USDA NASS data)
| Year | Wyoming (bu/ac) | US average (bu/ac) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 26 | 49.7 |
| 2021 | 32 | 44.3 |
| 2022 | 17 | 46.5 |
| 2023 | 30 | 48.7 |
| 2024 | 31 | 51.2 |
| 2025 | 30 | 53.3 |
| 2026 | 15 | 48.1 |
How Wyoming compares
Top Wheat-producing states, 2026 yield
| State | Yield (bu/ac) | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 87 | +80.9% |
| Michigan | 87 | +80.9% |
| Indiana | 85 | +76.7% |
| California | 83.4 | +73.4% |
| Ohio | 83 | +72.6% |
| Wisconsin | 83 | +72.6% |
| Kentucky | 82 | +70.5% |
| Alabama | 79 | +64.2% |
What this data means for Wyoming Wheat farmers
Wyoming's wheat yield collapsed to 15 bushels per acre in 2026, according to USDA's final estimate, falling 15 bushels per acre from the 30 bu/acre recorded in both 2025 and 2023. That single-year drop erases gains made after the previous low of 17 bu/acre in 2022 and pushes the state back toward its weakest recent performance. At 15 bu/acre, Wyoming trails the national average of 48.1 bu/acre by 33.1 bushels, meaning Wyoming farmers are harvesting roughly one-third of what the average American wheat grower produces per acre. With the current USDA NASS national price received sitting at $6.23 per bushel, Wyoming growers are generating approximately $93.45 per acre in gross revenue, a stark contrast to the $299.66 per acre a producer at the national average yield would collect.
At those compressed revenue levels, precision agriculture tools that trim input waste or recover even modest yield offer outsized financial impact. Variable-rate seeding and fertilizer prescription maps, for example, can reduce input costs by $8 to $15 per acre on fields with documented variability, which represents a 9 to 16 percent improvement on a $93 per-acre gross. Soil moisture monitoring and targeted irrigation scheduling are particularly relevant in Wyoming's semi-arid production zones, where water stress is a primary yield-limiting factor; recovering just 5 bu/acre through better water management would add $31.15 per acre in gross revenue at current prices. For an operation running 1,000 acres, that 5-bushel recovery translates to more than $31,000 in additional income, a return that can justify precision tool investments within a single season.
Precision ag platforms used by Wyoming Wheat farmers
Overview of major platforms — features and fit for different operation sizes. No sponsored content.
Precision ag ROI calculator
Estimate annual savings for your Wyoming Wheat farm based on acreage and current yield
Estimate the payback on variable-rate seeding, zone-based fertility, and overlap reduction for your farm.
Estimate only — based on industry-average implementation costs (variable-rate seeding $18/ac, zone-based fertility $22/ac, overlap reduction $9/ac; $12,000 fixed + $17/ac ongoing) and USDA yield benchmarks, not a quote.
Frequently asked questions — Wyoming Wheat
Why is Wyoming's wheat yield of 15 bu/acre so far below the US average of 48.1 bu/acre?
Wyoming's wheat yield gap of 33.1 bu/acre below the national average is primarily driven by the state's semi-arid climate, high elevation growing conditions, and limited irrigation infrastructure across most producing counties. Shallow soils, short growing seasons, and frequent late-spring frost events in regions like the Bighorn Basin and southeastern plains further constrain yield potential for both winter and spring wheat varieties.
At $6.23/bushel, does precision agriculture investment make financial sense for Wyoming wheat growers averaging 15 bu/acre?
At 15 bu/acre and $6.23/bushel, Wyoming wheat generates approximately $93.45 per acre in gross revenue, making every additional bushel gained through precision ag practices highly impactful on margins. Variable-rate fertilizer application and soil moisture monitoring technologies have shown potential to add 3-6 bu/acre in comparable low-yield dryland systems, which at current prices could return $18-$37 per acre to offset input costs.
What USDA programs are available to Wyoming wheat farmers to help address low yield performance?
Wyoming wheat producers can access USDA's Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs through the Farm Service Agency, which provide income support when yields or prices fall below benchmark levels. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) also offers EQIP funding in Wyoming specifically for irrigation efficiency, soil health practices, and cover cropping systems that can improve wheat productivity over time.
What local growing conditions in Wyoming most limit wheat yields, and how can agronomists address them?
Wyoming wheat production is heavily constrained by annual precipitation averaging 10-14 inches across most dryland acres, alkaline soils with high pH levels that reduce nutrient availability, and wind erosion that depletes topsoil organic matter critical for yield stability. Agronomists working in Wyoming typically recommend drought-tolerant winter wheat varieties bred for the High Plains, minimum-till or no-till systems to conserve soil moisture, and targeted micronutrient applications to correct zinc and iron deficiencies common in the state's alkaline soils.