Corn Prices Spike on Pro Farmer Yield Estimates
Corn prices have been on the rise as market analysts release their yield and production estimates. According to Pro Farmer, corn yields could be lower than previously expected, with a shocking 7.5 bu./acre cut from USDA's August estimate.
The estimated corn production would be down by 670 million bu., affecting the entire market. The December corn contract has already made new highs, closing above $5.06 1/2 on Friday. However, it is difficult to predict how much higher prices will rise.
Lane Akre, economist with Pro Farmer, notes that USDA's August estimate relied heavily on farmer surveys and word of mouth rather than objective yield data. This lack of data may have contributed to the lower estimates.
Akre also points out that every state on the tour showed lower yields compared to last year. The Western Corn Belt had record yields in 2025, which helped pull up the national average. However, this year's estimates are down across all states.