Agriculture News
But Rural Mainstreet Index of Rural Economies Edges Slightly into Plus Column
Acres of spring wheat impacted by drought increased once again
‘Two studs and a dud’ tells the story: Stress hits grain length, but clean fields keep Iowa in the record race.
Western Iowa shows promise with minimal disease pressure and plenty moisture, but yields lag expectations.
Scouts measured average corn yield potential of 184.19 bu. per acre for Illinois. Pod counts in a 3’x3’ square averaged 1,430.37.
Results for Districts 1, 4 & 7 in Iowa. Full results for Iowa will be released Thursday at 8 p.m. CT.
Lane Akre calls the Illinois corn crop underwhelming, while Kyle Wendland reports more consistency overall, but increased disease in soybeans.
Chip Flory reports low ear populations and mediocre pod counts into western Iowa, while Brent Judisch notes reduced corn yields from July heat but strong soybean potential.
Missing ears, not missing kernels, drive western Corn Belt yields down as Nebraska records lowest ear count in 13 years.
A battle of storms and standing water across Nebraska’s heartland.
Scouts measured average corn yield potential of 183.54 bu. per acre. Pod counts in a 3’x3’ square averaged 1318.64.
Scouts measured average corn yield potential of 163.61 bu. per acre. Pod counts in a 3’x3’ square averaged 1219.62.
Brent Judisch and Chip Flory report plenty of moisture, tipback in corn and some unimpressive soybean pod counts in Nebraska.
On Day 2 of the Crop Tour, Lane Akre and Kyle Wendlund uncovered some flooding, storm damage and pollination issues in western Indiana into central Illinois.
Brent Judisch outlines his Day 1 observations on the western leg of the Crop Tour.
The 2026 Crop Tour started off with a bang.
Scouts measured average corn yield potential of 180.18 bu. per acre, down from 185.69 bpa (3%) in 2025 and the 3-year average of 184.31 bpa (2.2%). Pod counts in a 3’x3’ square averaged 1,186.3, down from 1,287.28 (7%) in 2025 and the three-year average of 1,256.71 (4.7%).
Scouts measured average corn yield potential of 149.09 bu. per acre, down from 174.18 bpa (14.4%) in 2025 and the three-year average of 162.7 bpa (8.4%). Pod counts in a 3’x3’ square averaged 945.98, down from 1,188.45 (20.4%) in 2025 and the three-year average of 1,075.78 (12.07%).
Tour leader Chip Flory and consultant Brent Judisch paint a picture of what they’ve seen in South Dakota and Nebraska on Day 1 of the Crop Tour.
Tour leader Lane Akre and consultant Kyle Wendlund recount what they’ve observed in Ohio and Indiana on Day one of the Crop Tour.