USDA Predicts Record-Breaking Corn Crop for 2026

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released its August report predicting that the 2026 U.S. corn crop will be the second largest on record.

The report forecasts corn production at 16 billion bushels, up just 13 million from last month's estimate due to a 1.2-million acre increase in harvested area and reduced yield forecast.

The season's first survey-based corn yield forecast is down 2.3 bushels per acre from last month to 180.7 bushels per acre.

Total US corn use for 2026/27 is forecasted at 16.3 billion, with exports raised 75 million bushels to 3.3 billion due to increased global demand and constrained exports for Ukraine.