On Friday afternoon, Pro Farmer released their latest estimates on the US Corn and Soybean crop- based in part on the work of the crop scouts that participated in their 2016 Pro Farmer Crop Tour that moved across seven key midwest states. Here is the report released by Pro Farmer on Friday afternoon. In addition, at the bottom of this story- you can click on the audio play button and listen to farm broadcast colleague Todd Gleason of Illiniois Ag Extension, who talked after the report was released by Pro Farmer with Brian Grete about the tour results and the these estimates which were developed in part from the tour. (As Pro Farmer offers their estimate- corn harvest is already underway south of the US Corn Belt- Sam Knipp of AFR posted this picture of corn harvest on the farm of Jon Leeds, Webbers Falls,Okla. in the fertile Arkansas River Valley- this was irrigated corn making close to 200 bushels per acre.)
Pro Farmer Estimates for the 2016 US Corn and Soybeans Crops- as of August 26, 2016
Corn: 14.728 billion bu.; Average yield of 170.2 bu. per acre
Corn /- 1% = 14.875 billion bu. to 14.581 billion bu.; 171.9 bu. to 168.5 bu. per acre
Soybeans: 4.093 billion bu.; Average yield of 49.3 bu. per acre
Soybeans /- 2% = 4.175 billion bu. to 4.011 billion bu.; 50.3 bu. to 48.3 bu. per acre
Note: These estimates are based on assumptions for normal weather through September. With a normal finish to the growing season, the soybean crop stands to benefit more from weather than corn. Rains rolled across the Corn Belt during Crop Tour. When we get our boots wet when sampling fields on Crop Tour, it’s typically a good thing for the soybean crop. Much of the corn crop is too advanced in maturity to benefit much if late-season weather is favorable. We made no adjustments to harvested corn or soybean acres.
Corn
Ohio: 154 bu. per acre. We didn’t find as much corn in Ohio as USDA did with its August survey work. The northwestern portion of the state showed the impacts of too much water in the spring, followed by a dry June.
Indiana: 174 bu. per acre. We found the Indiana crop vastly improved from year-ago. Portions of eastern Indiana have some “problem” areas, but yield prospects are strong in the western portion of the Hoosier state.
Illinois: 194 bu. per acre. Illinois has a great corn crop, but it’s not as good as 2014 when the state yielded 200 bu. per acre. This year’s crop isn’t as uniform as two years ago through the areas we sampled and southern portions of the state will pull down the statewide yield, unlike 2014.
Iowa: 193 bu. per acre. The Iowa corn crop is also very good, but not quite as good as its neighbor to the east. Yields were more variable in Iowa than in Illinois. Plus, stalk quality concerns could cost some producers yield.
Minnesota: 175 bu. per acre. The Minnesota corn crop was a disappointment. The crop showed impacts from the May 15 frost and three weeks of heat in late June/early July.
Nebraska: 179 bu. per acre. We found irrigated corn disappointing in the Husker state. South-central and southeastern areas are dealing with a lot of lodging and green snap.
South Dakota: 142. bu. per acre. Southeastern portions of the state got their crop planted late due to excessive spring precip. Once the crop was finally in the ground, conditions turned dry. Crop maturity has been pushed.
Soybeans
Ohio: 50 bu. per acre. While the crop has moisture to finish, pod counts were down 6.2% in our Tour samples. With the crop done flowering, what you see is what you get for pods.
Indiana: 55 bu. per acre. Pod counts in Indiana were up 7.8% from year-ago. The crop has plenty of soil moisture to fill pods and finish strong.
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