USDA Corn Yield Estimate Under Scrutiny Amid Discrepancies

The debate over corn yield has resurfaced, and this time it's due to discrepancies in feed and residual use for the 2025-26 crop year.

A recent analysis by DTN shows that the feed and residual use total for 2025-26 is almost 1 billion bushels more than the previous year, despite a near-identical grain-consuming-animal-units (GCAU) figure.

This suggests that last year's production was overstated, with the corn yield potentially being 10 bushels per acre higher than initially reported.

If this is the case, it could lead to unrealistic expectations for the 2026-27 crop year and expose a shortage in corn supplies to meet record demand.