Corn:
14.501 billion bu.; Average yield of 177.3 bu. per acre
Corn +/- 1% = 14.646 billion bu. to 14.356 billion bu.; 179.1 bu. to 175.5 bu. per acre
Soybeans:
4.683 billion bu.; Average yield of 53.0 bu. per acre
Soybeans +/- 2% = 4.731 billion bu. to 4.589 billion bu.; 54.1 bu. to 51.9 bu. per acre
Note: The estimates on this page reflect Pro Farmer’s view on production and yields. These estimates are based on assumptions for normal weather through the remainder of the growing season. We measured a mature crop that in some cases is just weeks away from harvest. Most of the corn crop (possibly with the exception of Iowa and Minnesota) will not be able to add to yield. Soybeans have the soil moisture needed for a strong finish. The soybean production estimate assumes a 500,000-acre reduction versus the June Acreage Report.
Corn
Ohio: 184 bu. per acre. They say records are meant to be broken, and that could definitely be the case this year. We typically measure the state too light and feel the crop will top USDA’s 180-bu.-per-acre August peg.
Indiana: 186 bu. per acre. We can’t argue with USDA’s 186 bu. per acre peg. Ear counts pushed up yields. It’s a big crop that could’ve been even better if not for some tipback.
Illinois: 204 bu. per acre. We found a surprising amount of variability in the state, but a 6% increase in ear counts will offset some of the “low” areas. We measured a good crop, but not good enough to hit USDA’s yield peg.
Iowa: 202 bu. per acre. The opportunity to add yield is still there… but so is the opportunity to lose some yield. The state was too wet in the northwest, too dry in the south and pretty darn perfect in the east. Crop health on the eastern side of the state was the best we encountered on Tour.
Minnesota: 186 bu. per acre. We encountered nitrogen loss, shallow root systems and dry conditions in areas. Therefore, we feel USDA may have overshot the crop.
Nebraska: 195 bu. per acre. We saw a really good Nebraska corn crop — USDA measured a record-large crop in August and so did we. The crop is nearing maturity. We expect harvest to get underway in a week or two.
South Dakota: 171 bu. per acre. We can’t find much to argue with regarding USDA’s August crop estimate for the state, especially since our Tour favors higher-yielding areas.
Soybeans
Ohio: 60 bu. per acre. It’s a beautiful crop, and one that’s very uniform and mature. And the moisture is there for a strong finish.
Indiana: 62.5 bu. per acre. Much the same can be said for Indiana’s crop, and it is even a little more mature than Ohio’s. Combines could roll in places as soon as two weeks.
Illinois: 65 bu. per acre. Illinois beans did their part to contribute to an overall U.S. soybean crop that promises to be a real beast, likely setting record yields. Pods are exemplary and starting to fill. High pod counts and ample soil moisture point to a bigger yield than USDA estimated in August.
Iowa: 63.5 bu. per acre. R6 beans should finish easily before frost. There’s plenty of moisture to take it to the finish. Disease and insect pressure were light.
Minnesota: 49 bu. per acre. This soybean crop is the most variable of any on the tour. Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) is setting in for some areas. Some of the crop needs rain, some needs the rain to stop.
Nebraska: 63 bu. per acre. We measured a whopper of a bean crop in Nebraska. And it was a much cleaner crop than we’ve seen in recent years. It won’t add any pods from this point forward, but rains could help it to fill existing ones.
South Dakota: 50 bu. per acre. We saw much the same crop as USDA did on Aug. 1. As was the case for most of Tour, maturity was advanced. Plant health was generally excellent, insect and disease pressure were low and stands were better than average.