2026 Wheat Scouting

Content

As noted in "Assessing Freeze Injury in Wheat," growers and extension educators are increasingly concerned about the impacts of recent freezing events across Nebraska. Injury from freeze events often takes one to two weeks to become visible. Given the prolonged drought and more advanced crop development in some areas, the second round of freezing temperatures during the week of April 27 may result in greater damage than typically expected.

This page will be updated as new reports become available.

If you are interested in submitting photos, please use this link and include images along with field details. Water and Cropping Systems extension educators are also available to answer questions or evaluate samples. You can find your local educator in the extension directory.
 

Page Updated: May 1, 2026

Nebraska map with certain counties highlighted in red.
Extension educators across Nebraska have been scouting wheat fields and consulting with growers. The map highlights counties with submitted photos. Growers are encouraged to reach out to their local water and cropping systems extension educators to share updates.

Panhandle Observations

Green plant stems, some intact and others damaged, arranged on a white surface.

Split stems from Cheyenne County-High Plains Ag Lab showing mix of heads that seem unaffected (left) and close up of head in boot stage showing yellowing and necrosis (right). 

Photo and sample: Vini Zuppa/Nebraska Extension

Tall green grass stems and leaves on a plain white background.

Split stems from Sheridan County appearing to show early head damage from frost. 

Sample: John Thomas/Nebraska Extension; Photo: Vini Zuppa/Nebraska Extension

Two green grass stems with seed heads, brown leaves at the base, on a white surface.

Split stems from Deuel County showing heads that seem unaffected by the first freeze but may not exhibit symptoms from April 29 yet. 

Photo and sample: Vini Zuppa/Nebraska Extension
 

Green wheat plants with slender leaves and developing grains on stems against a white background.

Split stems from irrigated field in Box Butte County that show little to no freeze damage at this point, though other reports from growers indicate that early maturing varieties and dryland fields are already showing head discoloration. 

Sample: John Thomas/Nebraska Extension; Photo: Vini Zuppa/Nebraska Extension.

Green wheat stems with leaves and developing spikes laid on a white surface.

Split stems from Morrill County with some freeze-impacted leaf tips, but little head damage at this point. 

Sample: John Thomas/Nebraska Extension; Photo: Vini Zuppa/Nebraska Extension

Three green plant stems with varying levels of damage, displaying discoloration and browning.

Split stems from southern Cheyenne County. Panels a and b were planted into corn fallow and had lower stand and freeze damage, whereas panel b is the same variety with possible leaf impacts but heads unaffected coming from a field of millet fallow. 

Photo and sample: Vini Zuppa/Nebraska Extension
 

Dry soil with sparse green grass and yellowing plants scattered across the ground.

Wheat field in western Banner County showing what may be freeze damage and/or drought stress but is difficult to determine yet. 

Photo: Gary Stone/Nebraska Extension

Close-up of a hand holding a green leaf with white streaks; dry, yellowing grass in the background.

Close-up photo of freeze damage on leaves in Red Willow County (left). Surrounding field shows significant browning of leaves (right) from the tips on all tillers. Freeze damage can sometimes be differentiated from burning due to drought that is more often localized near the crown versus here where it is seen more uniformly. 

Photos: Ruby Collins

Southern Observations

Close-up of wheat stems with brown spots next to a vast wheat field under a clear sky.

Wheat showing necrotic nodes and wilted leaves from Fillmore County (left) and surrounding field (right). Node and stem necrosis were exacerbated by significant drought stress and shallow rooting depth when planted after soybeans. 

Photos: Jenny Brhel

Green and yellow crops stretch across a large field under a clear blue sky.

Wheat field near Hebron in Thayer County with freeze damage potentially attributed to strips of high residue within the field versus strips without as much residue that had reduced cooling effects. 

Photo: David Wangila