The Pro Farmer national corn and soybean estimates draw on observations from thousands of fields across seven key Midwestern states over the course of our annual Crop Tour – a four-day, boots-on-the-ground effort. To complete the picture, the final figures incorporate Crop Tour data with plant maturity, overall crop health, historical trends and expectations for areas outside of the territory covered by the tour.
Corn: Pro Farmer estimates the 2026 U.S. corn crop at 15.344 billion bushels, based on an average yield of 173.2 bu. per acre. USDA in August estimated a national average corn yield of 180.7 bu. per acre.
Given the variables that remain between now and harvest, Pro Farmer places the corn crop within a range of plus or minus 1% of 15.191 billion to 15.498 billion bushels, with a corresponding national yield range of 171.5 to 175 bushels per acre.
- “What we saw throughout the week was a crop with solid potential, but also more variability and fewer bushels than appearances might suggest,” said Chip Flory, host of AgriTalk and western Crop Tour leader. “In corn, lower ear populations, shorter grain length and inconsistent field performance limited upside in a number of areas, while soybeans showed pockets of strong potential but remain more dependent on late-season weather and plant health.”
Soybeans: Pro Farmer estimates the 2026 U.S. soybean crop at 4.572 billion bushels, based on an average yield of 53.3 bu. per acre. USDA last week pegged the average U.S. soybean yield at 52.7 bu. per acre.
Soybean production remains more sensitive to late-season weather and crop development. Pro Farmer places the crop within a plus or minus 2% range of 4.481 billion to 4.664 billion bushels, with a corresponding national yield range of 52.2 to 54.4 bushels per acre.
- “While pod counts were consistently below last year’s historically high or record figures, soil moisture will help carry the crop through the end of the season, even if precipitation slows down,” said Pro Farmer Economist Lane Akre, who led the eastern leg of the Tour.
The Pro Farmer Crop Tour was carried out by a group of more than 100 dedicated crop scouts who sampled more than 3,000 fields in seven states.
For more details on state-by-state Tour results and other observations, check out this week’s Pro Farmer newsletter.