Nebraska Corn Yield Falls 8.85% to 163.61 Bu/Acre as Ear Counts Hit Lowest Since 2013
Updated
Updated · Pro Farmer · Aug 19
Nebraska Corn Yield Falls 8.85% to 163.61 Bu/Acre as Ear Counts Hit Lowest Since 2013
3 articles · Updated · Pro Farmer · Aug 19
Summary
163.61 bushels per acre was Nebraska’s average 2026 corn yield on the Pro Farmer tour, down from 179.5 a year earlier and 5.6% below the three-year average.
86.22 ears in two 30-foot rows — down 5.22% year over year and the lowest since 2013 — drove the decline, with scouts citing row skips and barren stalks rather than intentional lower planting populations.
Heavy rain after planting, a dry crusting spell, cold temperatures after emergence and mid-summer stress all cut stand establishment and ear development; grain length also slipped 4.61% to 7.0 inches while kernel rows held steady at 16.24.
Nebraska soybeans looked far steadier: pod counts fell 9.54% from last year to 1,220, but were only 0.6% below the three-year average, with ample late-season moisture supporting finish potential.
Ear counts have now dragged yields below year-ago levels in multiple western and eastern Corn Belt states, putting added focus on upcoming Iowa results for whether the central Belt can still meet expectations.
With early 2026 crop tour results exposing severe heat and storm damage, will the final harvest completely upend USDA's initial yield projections?
Despite alarming corn tipback and disease reports, could resilient soybeans and unexpected Chinese demand quietly stabilize this year's volatile agricultural markets?