US Crop Yields Plummet Amid Excessive Rainfall, Contradicting USDA Estimates

A recent Pro Farmer crop tour of US fields has revealed low corn and soybean yields in several states, contradicting the USDA's August estimates. The tour showed that dry conditions in the West and excess moisture and pollination problems in the Eastern U.S. Corn Belt are stressing plants and reducing yield potential.

In Illinois, head counts were very low due to early rains, while Western Iowa saw crops high in yield despite increases in SDS and brown stem rot in soybeans. The tour also reported that excessive rainfall this season negatively affected crops, making the USDA's forecasts for near-record soybean and corn harvests overly optimistic.

The results of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour 2026 regarding corn yields are as follows:

South Dakota - yield 149.1 bushels/acre (174.2 in 2025 and 151.0 according to USDA estimate) as crops were badly affected by heat and drought.

Ohio - due to excessive moisture and poor pollination, the yield is 180.2 bushels/acre (185.7 in 2025 and 195 according to USDA estimates).

Nebraska - 163.6 bushels/acre (173.3 3-year average and 183.0 USDA estimate).

Indiana - 183.5 bushels/acre (193.8 in 2025 and 206.0 according to USDA estimates).

Illinois - 184.2 bushels/acre, with uneven crops and low head index (fewer heads per acre due to early rains).