North Dakota Crops Face Heat and Drought Challenges
North Dakota's corn and soybean yields are facing significant challenges due to extreme heat and drought conditions. July 2026 was one of the hottest Julys on record for most of the state, with temperatures reaching above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas. According to DTN Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery, this has had a negative impact on crop development, particularly during pollination for corn and blooming for soybeans.
Montgomery noted that despite the challenging growing conditions, the DTN Digital Yield Tour's corn yield estimate is only 0.5 bpa lower than one year ago. This may seem surprising given the drought situation, but Montgomery attributed it to the fact that last year's dryness was mostly contained to the northwest, whereas this year's drought affects production-dense areas in the east and southeast.
The soybean crop is considered 'very temperamental' by Montgomery, with yields carrying a large variance from trend year to year. The DTN Digital Yield Tour result shows soybean yields would be 3% below the state's previous five-year average. However, some farmers remain optimistic about the potential for August rains to limit drought damage.
Farmers in North Dakota are struggling with the effects of extreme heat and drought. Paul R. Anderson from Coleharbor reported that this has been his toughest growing season in 35 years. His area experienced destructive storms in June, followed by a prolonged period without significant rainfall or moisture. As a result, corn yields may be 50-60 bpa lower than last year.
North Dakota State University Extension agents Jill Murphy and Josh Becker provided insight into the varying conditions across different regions. Murphy noted that moderate drought conditions in Traill County turned to severe by August, with only 4 inches of rain recorded since May. Becker mentioned that while some areas were unaffected by drought, others were experiencing rapid deterioration due to dry weather.