The Pro Farmer Crop Tour gets under way Monday. Here’s what scouts will be looking for in Iowa and Minnesota.
Iowa
Iowa’s planting season got off to a timely start. By May 10, corn plantings were 72% complete — ahead of the five-year average of 63% and matching 2025’s pace. Soybeans were 60% done, well ahead of the 48% average. By May 31, Iowa had 97% of corn and 95% of soybeans planted, both ahead of average. Corn emergence at month’s end was 87%, 4 points ahead of average and 2 points ahead of 2025.
Topsoil moisture at the end of May was rated 66% adequate and 19% surplus. By late June, conditions were similar at 69% adequate and 10% surplus. At the start of August, moisture had tightened to 60% adequate and 5% surplus, with the driest areas in the western three crop districts. Heat after pollination will be a factor scouts assess on Tour. Expect some differences between western (day 3) and eastern (day 4) legs.
We saw great crops in Iowa last year but southern rust in corn and SDS in soybeans stole bushels from the 2025 crop. At the start of August this year southern rust had been confirmed in 24 Iowa counties but severity was at a much lower level than in early August last year.
On Wednesday, USDA pegged the average Iowa corn yield at 216 bushels per acre, up from 210 last year. Soybeans were estimated at 62 bushels per acre, down from 63.5 in 2025.
There are high expectations for Iowa this year. Iowa has had the best crop conditions for most of the year in USDA’s Crop Progress report and has had ample rainfall for the most part, aside from the northwest corner of the state. Still, the eastern portion of the state should more than make up for any decline in the west, assuming early season rainfall — or the recent deluge — wasn’t too much.
Minnesota
Minnesota saw bumper yields last fall, seeing a record in both corn and soybeans. Minnesota crops looked particularly impressive on last year’s Tour and both finished the crop year well, with USDA corroborating our record, stating corn yielded 201 bushels per acre while soybeans were at 52.5 bushels per acre. While 2025 set the bar high, much of the state is seeing impressive potential again this year. Octopusbot, which utilizes NDVI, weather patterns and AI, actually sees Minnesota looking better now than it did a year ago at this time.
By the week ended May 10, 2026, Minnesota farmers had 68% of the corn crop planted, ahead of the five-year average of 55% but just behind last year’s 71% planted. Bean plantings were on a record pace with 51% in the ground by May 10, easily ahead of the 33% five-year average and 2025’s 48%.
At the end of May, Minnesota farmers had 97% of the corn crop planted compared to the five-year average of 94% and 99% planted in 2025. Bean plantings were 96% done, way ahead of the 84% five-year average and on pace with last year. Corn emergence was at 82%, ahead of the five-year average of 74% but behind 2025’s 86%.
The crop looking as good as it does is a little puzzling. While April rainfall was good, precipitation had been below average since falling to 54% of normal in May. When talking with Crop Tour Data Analyst Emily Carolan, she mentioned the crop is looking impressive in the southeast portion of the state. Minnesota appears to be riding the line of too dry in the west and too wet in the east and is just right.
USDA estimated Minnesota’s average corn yield at 197 bushels per acre, down from 201 bushels last year. Soybeans were projected at 48 bushels per acre, down from 52.5 bushels in 2025.
With high expectations this year, the main question will be “is it as good as everyone says?” Consistency across fields is necessary to break records, which will be another point scouts will be on the lookout for. Areas of the western portion of the state could show some drought stress as well, another key metric that could weigh on the state as a whole.
The Minnesota all sample average last year yielded 202.86 bushels per acre. Typically, the all sample average comes in 5.5 bushels above USDA’s final yield. That is not surprising given the Crop Tour samples the southern portion of the state, but in years like last year, the northern part of Minnesota helped lift the average.
Check out our state-by-state Crop Tour previews: