According to a Commodity Intelligence Report published August 3, 2026, by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Kazakhstan's major wheat growing areas are concentrated in the northern steppe region, including the oblasts of Akmola, Kostanay, and North Kazakhstan. The harsh continental climate, characterized by extreme cold and winds that remove protective snow cover, increases winterkill risk and has led farmers to focus on spring wheat. Spring wheat accounts for approximately 95% of total output and harvested area. Planting begins in May when soil temperatures are consistently positive and frost risk is minimized, with harvest occurring between August and September.
Winter wheat represents a small share of total production and is primarily grown in the warmer oblasts of Turkestan, Zhambyl, and Almaty. Harvested area for winter wheat has remained stable at around 600,000 hectares, with yields higher than spring wheat due to a longer growing season. Winter wheat planting occurs between October and November, with harvest from June to August.