US corn crop yields projected to fall below 2025 levels

The annual Pro Farmer crop tour has concluded, indicating that US corn yields are expected to fall short of the previous year's record. While scouts observed bountiful crops in eastern Iowa and Minnesota, western regions faced significant stress from drought, heat, and heavy rains that washed away fertilizer.

In Iowa, the top corn-producing state, projected yields are estimated at 193.98 bushels per acre, down from the 2025 tour average of 198.43 bushels per acre. Minnesota's projected yield is 199.01 bushels per acre, compared to 202.86 bushels per acre in 2025. Despite these declines, both states remain above their respective three-year averages.

Agricultural economists note that farmers require near-record yields to remain profitable due to high fertilizer and fuel costs. Meanwhile, recent reports from Iowa indicate that while unseasonably warm and dry weather has aided harvest progress, corn harvest is currently 20 percentage points behind the five-year average.