Updated
Updated · Pro Farmer · Aug 21
Pro Farmer Sees 15.344 Billion-Bushel U.S. Corn Crop as Yield Trails USDA by 7.5 Bushels
Updated
Updated · Pro Farmer · Aug 21

Pro Farmer Sees 15.344 Billion-Bushel U.S. Corn Crop as Yield Trails USDA by 7.5 Bushels

1 articles · Updated · Pro Farmer · Aug 21

Summary

  • 15.344 billion bushels is Pro Farmer’s estimate for the 2026 U.S. corn crop, based on a 173.2 bushel-per-acre yield after its four-day Midwest Crop Tour.
  • 173.2 bushels per acre is 7.5 below USDA’s August corn yield estimate of 180.7, with Pro Farmer citing lower ear populations, shorter grain length and uneven field performance.
  • 4.572 billion bushels is Pro Farmer’s soybean forecast, built on a 53.3 bushel-per-acre yield that sits slightly above USDA’s 52.7 estimate from last week.
  • More than 100 scouts sampled over 3,000 fields in seven key states, and Pro Farmer combined those observations with crop maturity, plant health and areas outside the tour route.
  • Late-season weather still matters most for soybeans, which Pro Farmer said show pockets of strong potential but remain dependent on plant health and moisture through the finish.

Insights

Why did the USDA's August corn estimates miss the hidden field-level damage uncovered by Pro Farmer's 2026 scouts?
Could late-season weather shifts still rescue the U.S. corn crop, or is the damage from heat and disease already permanent?
Will satellite imaging and AI models eventually replace manual crop tours in spotting the hidden yield losses reported this season?