Tennessee Farmer's Record Corn Yields Under Threat from High Input Costs

Tennessee farmer Bruce Brooksher has harvested his largest corn crop to date at the age of 63. He credits timely rains in late June and July for the record yields, which have been strong across the farm, with some fields reaching 10-20 bushels above previous records.

Brooksher expressed relief that this year's crop has allowed him to make a profit, given the challenges of high input costs. He noted that while the price of corn has increased slightly, it is not enough to offset the rising cost of machinery and other inputs.

The Brooksher family hopes to continue farming for future generations, but acknowledges that profitability will be crucial in sustaining their operation. With 44% of Tennessee's corn crop already harvested, yields are expected to reach an estimated 181 bushels per acre across approximately 880,000 acres.