Pro Farmer crop tour: S. Dakota faces drought pressure

Soybean conditions are mostly favourable in South Dakota, while drought and pollination issues could pressure corn yields, farmers told Argus on the first day of the Pro Farmer crop tour.

The average corn yield in South Dakota was pegged at 149.09 bushels (bu) per acre (9.35 t/hectare) by participants on the Pro Farmer crop tour — down by 25.09 bu/acre (1.57 t/ha) on the year, and 13.61 bu/acre (0.85 t/ha) below the previous five-year average.

This is also well below the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) projection for the state, which forecast yields above the previous five-year average in August (see table).

While corn crop health was generally favourable — with no significant disease issues reported including corn rust, which was prevalent in 2025 — little-to-no rainfall in June-July has caused pollination problems including tip-back and lodging in parts of the state.

South Dakota's soybean crop has fared better in the dry weather, although yield indications remain below historical levels. Pod count — measured as the number of pods in a 3ft by 3ft plot — was seen at 945.98 by Pro Farmer participants. This is 242.47 below the 2025 pod count and 129.8 below the trailing five-year average.

Soybeans in the state have faced less disease pressure this year, farmers said. Insect pressure has also been limited, although some stemborer pests were noted by crop tour participants.

But August conditions are key for soybean yield development, meaning forecast rain in the coming weeks could support yields further.

Meanwhile, corn fields in northeast Nebraska showed some tip-back and a little browning, although conditions appeared largely favourable.

Ohio

At the same time, crop tour participants in Ohio noted standing water in fields, with unfavourably high moisture levels likely to weigh on corn conditions and curb grain filling.

Average corn yields in Ohio were pegged at 180.18 bu/acre (11.3 t/ha) on the Pro Farmer crop tour, around 5.51 bu/acre (0.35 t/ha) below 2025 and 4.13 bu/acre (0.26 t/ha) below the previous three-year average.

Pro Farmer participants observed a soybean pod count of 1,197.25, down from 1,287.28 in 2025 and an average of 1,256.71 in 2023-25. Some soybean plants are still in the blooming stage of development, participants said.

By Alexander Schultz and Megan Evans