US corn crop projected to fall below 2025 levels

The annual Pro Farmer crop tour concluded with projections indicating that the US corn crop will likely be smaller than the record-breaking 2025 harvest. While yields in key grain-producing states like Iowa and Minnesota are expected to remain above three-year averages, they are projected to fall short of last year's levels.

In Iowa, the top US corn producer, the projected yield is 193.98 bushels per acre (bpa), down from the 2025 tour average of 198.43 bpa. Minnesota is projected at 199.01 bpa, compared to the 2025 estimate of 202.86 bpa.

Scouts reported varying conditions across the seven-state tour. Eastern regions of Iowa and Minnesota showed bountiful crops, but western areas faced significant stress from drought, heat, and heavy rains that washed away fertilizer. Agricultural economists noted that farmers require near-record yields to remain profitable due to high fertilizer and fuel costs.