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Pro Farmer crop tour day 4: Minnesota looks best
Pro Farmer crop tour day 4: Minnesota looks best
Rochester, 21 August (Argus) — Yield indications for corn and soybeans in Minnesota point to a better-than-expected harvest for the state, while the final picture for Iowa was mixed on the fourth and final day of the US Pro Farmer crop tour. The two halves of the tour starting in Spencer, Iowa, and Riverside, Iowa, moved north to converge in Rochester, Minnesota, on Thursday to conclude the US crop survey. The results from the Minnesota portion of the tour were favorable for the state's corn and soybean harvest outlook. Forecast corn yields exceeded the three-year average by 8.7pc at 199.01 bushels (bu) per acre, and exceeded the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) estimate of 197 bu/acre. The soybean portion of the Minnesotan survey resulted in pod counts — measured as the number of pods in a 3ft-by-3ft plot —at 1,257.8, up by 15pc from the three-year average, while the USDA's current yield estimate of 48 bu/acres exceeds the three-year average by only 0.7pc. The final forecast for Iowa's corn yield was at 193.98 bu/acre.up by 1.4pc from the three-year average. But this expected gain would still place yields in the state 2.2pc below last year's tour results, and well below the record 216 bu/acre currently forecast by the USDA. The tour's results for Iowa's soybean crop were more in line with the current USDA projection, with pod counts observed at 1,362.93, down by 1.6pc from the three-year average, and consistent with the current USDA yield forecast of 62 bu/acre. Crops improve as the tour moves north Moving into Minnesota, fewer observations of crop disease and under pollination were reported, but the current drought did make itself apparent in the corn crop. While fewer incidents of tip-back were reported in the surveyed corn acres, ear lengths were generally shorter than anticipated due to drought this season. The soybean crop had less evidence of drought, with the condition of the crop improving from fields surveyed in western Iowa and Nebraska. Reports of disease presence in both crops were far fewer than in the states surveyed earlier in the tour, with fewer reports of weed pressure as well. But soil conditions were generally drier-than-optimal for this point in the year, with limited reports of browning crops and small areas of nitrogen deficiently observed. While both the corn and soybean crops were in overall better condition than in the previous states surveyed, it was noted that soybean yields in particular would benefit from some additional rain ahead of harvest this fall. By Alexander Schultz and Ryan Koory US crop tour results - Iowa Corn Yields (bu/acre) USDA (bu/acre) 2026 193.98 216.00 2025 198.43 210.00 2022-24 average 191.34 204.00 Soybeans Pod counts* USDA (bu/acre) 2026 1,362.93 62.00 2025 1,384.38 63.50 2022-24 average 1,295.70 58.83 *the number of pods in a 3ft-by-3ft plot — USDA, US Pro Farmer crop tour US crop tour results - Minnesota Corn Yields (bu/acre) USDA (bu/acre) 2026 199.01 197.00 2025 202.86 201.00 2022-24 average 183.04 184.67 Soybeans Pod counts* USDA (bu/acre) 2026 1,257.80 48.00 2025 1,247.86 52.50 2022-24 average 1,089.82 47.67 *the number of pods in a 3ft-by-3ft plot — USDA, US Pro Farmer crop tour Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Pro Farmer tour: Mixed views in Ill., Iowa: Correction
Pro Farmer tour: Mixed views in Ill., Iowa: Correction
Corrects data in table Spencer, 20 August (Argus) — The outlooks for corn and soybean crops in Illinois and western Iowa were mixed on the third day of the US Pro Farmer tour, with indications that yields could exceed the three-year average in some areas. One leg of the tour moved northeast from Nebraska City, Nebraska, to Spencer, Iowa, and another northwest from Bloomington, Illinois, to Riverside, Iowa, on Wednesday. The final corn yield forecast for Illinois was assessed down by 7.5pc from the three-year average, at just 184.19 bushels an acre (bu/acre), against the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) projection of 212 bu/acre — near parity with the three-year average. The outlook for Illinois' soybean crop was brighter, with the pod count for a 3ft² plot up by 2.9pc on the three-year average, at 1,430.37. But this still suggests yields below USDA's 67 bu/acre forecast — 5.8pc above the three-year average. USDA sees record Illinois soybean yields this year — up by 7.2pc on last year. But the pod count was 3.33pc below last year's, so USDA yield estimates could be revised down in September. In western Iowa, preliminary results point towards lower yields this year. In the northern District 1, corn yields are forecast at 191.8 bu/acre, down by 3.1pc on last year, but 3.3pc above the three-year average. In the central District 4, yields are pegged at 189.73 bu/acre — down by 8.5pc on the year and 0.5pc on the three-year average. And in the southern District 7, yields are projected at 191.59 bu/acre, down by 2.3pc on the year and in line with the three-year average. The tour concluded that western Iowa corn yields in all districts will be down on the year, while USDA is guiding for a record 216 bu/acre for the state as a whole. All western Iowa district pod counts are down on the year — with District 4 down most sharply, by 7.4pc. But all results were above the three-year average — District 1 was up by 8pc at 1,269.26; District 4 was up by 1.9pc at 1,273.77; and and District 7 was up by 14pc at 1,557.59. These results are not totally out of line with USDA's forecast, which has soybean yields in Iowa reaching 62 bu/acre, down by 2.4pc from last year but up by 5.4pc from the three-year average. The rest of Iowa will be surveyed today, with final results for the state released at the end of the tour. Conditions improve as tour reaches Iowa Reports of disease and weed pressure remained commonplace as the two legs of the tour moved into Iowa, and there were fewer reports of drought or flooding, but more signs of storm damage. Western Illinois had fewer reports of flooded fields, but there were reports of corn being flattened by recent storms and soybeans damaged by hail earlier this season. There were also indications of excessively wet conditions, with observations of soybean sudden death syndrome, brown stem rot and lodging. Corn pollination was also affected — as indicated by reports of tip-back — but fewer incidents were reported in Illinois than in Indiana. Weed pressure was noted, and became more apparent as the tour moved into the northwest of the state. There were fewer observations of drought as the tour moved into western Iowa from Nebraska. But soybean plants surveyed in the north were notably smaller than in the south, with higher variability in surveyed pod counts — probably due to drought. Areas of soybean sudden death syndrome were also reported in western Iowa, and there were reports of northern corn leaf blight, and ear worm. Wind damaged corn was observed, as were pollination problems, with multiple observations of tip-back. But there were fewer reports of weed pressure in western Iowa than in Nebraska. By Alexander Schultz and Ryan Koory US crop tour results - Illinois bu/acre Corn Yields (bu/acre) USDA (bu/acre) 2026 184.2 212.0 2025 199.6 214.0 2022-24 average 199.2 212.3 Soybeans Pod counts* USDA (bu/acre) 2026 1,430.4 67.0 2025 1,479.2 62.5 2022-24 average 1,389.7 63.3 *the number of pods in a 3ft-by-3ft plot — USDA, US Pro Farmer crop tour US crop tour results - Western Iowa Distric 1 Yields (bu/acre) Pod counts* 2026 191.8 1,269.3 2025 197.9 1,279.2 2022-24 average 185.7 1,175.1 Distric 4 Yields (bu/acre) Pod counts* 2026 189.7 1,273.8 2025 207.2 1,376.2 2022-24 average 190.6 1,250.1 Distric 7 Yields (bu/acre) Pod counts* 2026 190.6 1,557.6 2025 195.0 1,562.6 2022-24 average 190.5 1,366.3 *the number of pods in a 3ft-by-3ft plot — US Pro Farmer crop tour Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Pro Farmer crop tour day 2: Lower yield results
Pro Farmer crop tour day 2: Lower yield results
Nebraska City, 19 August (Argus) — Yield indications for corn and soybeans in Nebraska and Indiana were below their three-year averages during the second day of the US Pro Farmer crop tour, further indicating lower production for the 2026 US harvest. The two portions of the crop tour conducted surveys moving east in Nebraska from Grand Island to Nebraska City, and moving west from Noblesville, Indiana, to Bloomington, Illinois, on Tuesday. Corn yields in Nebraska were forecast to be down by 5.6pc from the three-year average at 163.61 bushels (bu) per acres, and in Indiana the tour results produced a forecast that was down by 2.1pc from the three-year average at 183.54 bu/acre. For both states, the tour results are in contrast to the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) current corn forecast which put Nebraska corn yields up by 2.6pc from the three-year average and Indiana yields up by 4.6pc — at 183 bu/acre and 206 bu/acre, respectively. Surveyed soybean acres produced similar results with pod counts — measured as the number of pods in a 3ft-by-3ft plot — in Nebraska down by 0.6pc from the three-year average at 1,219.61, and in Indiana the tour results observed pod counts that were down by 3.4pc at 1,318.64. In contrast, the USDA placed its 2026 Nebraska soybean yield forecast up by 8.2pc from the three-year average at 57 bu/acre, and in Indiana yields are forecast to be up by 4.8pc to 62 bu/acre. Crops remain under-pollinated Heat-related pollination issues were reported for both states — with multiple observations of tip-back and missing rows on ears of corn — although the amount of tip-back was lower in Nebraska during the day than was observed in South Dakota during the previous day. For much of Nebraska, rainfall was scant earlier in the growing season, with some farmers on the tour reporting zero rainfall since 4 July. Crop damage was spotted across Nebraska due to this year's hot and dry weather conditions, but yellow rust is not an apparent issue for corn this year after being widespread last year. Areas of the crop under irrigation were in comparatively better condition, but are still likely to yield fewer bushels than last year due to tip-back resulting from heat and under-pollination. An increase in corn-on-corn planting was also observed in Nebraska, with those fields displaying generally lower yields as is common with planting the crop in two consecutive years. Soybeans appeared to be better off compared with corn, as the heat earlier in July was less impactful for soybeans, but there were fields in which the crop had yet to reach the blooming stage of development observed near the city of Grand Island, Nebraska. The night ahead of the crop tour also brought heavy rains resulting in several soybean fields being left with standing water. Crop conditions did improve as the tour moved into eastern Nebraska, especially for corn. But increased weed pressure was reported in many corn and soybean fields. Overall, this season's impact on Nebraska's corn crop was apparent, with the tour reporting ear count at its lowest level since 2013. The tour will progress into Iowa and across Illinois today. The survey began in northeastern Illinois on Tuesday, with early indications that under-pollination will again be an issue for the state's corn and soybean crops. By Alexander Schultz and Ryan Koory US crop tour results - Corn bu/acre Yields USDA estimate Nebraska - Corn 2026 163.6 183.0 2025 179.5 194.0 2022-24 average 173.3 178.3 Indiana - Corn 2026 183.5 206.0 2025 193.8 204.0 2022-24 average 187.4 197.0 — USDA, US Pro Farmer crop tour US crop tour results - Soybeans bu/acre Pod counts* USDA estimate Nebraska 2026 1,219.6 57.0 2025 1,348.3 65.5 2022-24 average 1,226.9 52.7 Indiana 2026 1,318.6 62.0 2025 1,376.6 59.5 2022-24 average 1,365.2 59.2 *the number of pods in a 3ft-by-3ft plot — USDA, US Pro Farmer crop tour Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Pro Farmer crop tour: S. Dakota faces drought pressure
Pro Farmer crop tour: S. Dakota faces drought pressure
Grand Island, 18 August (Argus) — 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 US crop tour results — corn bu/acre Yields USDA South Dakota 2026 149.1 151.0 2025 174.2 171.0 2022-24 average 162.7 149.3 Ohio 2026 180.2 195.0 2025 185.7 185.0 2022-24 average 184.3 187.3 USDA reported yields and 2026 forecats — USDA, US Pro Farmer crop tour US crop tour results — soybeans Yields (num. pods) USDA (bu/acre) South Dakota 2026 946.0 41.0 2025 1,188.5 47.0 2022-24 average 1,075.8 41.7 Ohio 2026 1,197.3 58.0 2025 1,287.3 53.0 2022-24 average 1,256.7 54.5 USDA reported yields and 2026 forecasts — USDA, US Pro Farmer crop tour Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.