USDA cuts 2026 US corn yield outlook, raises harvested acres forecast
DBA•USDA raises corn production forecast on larger harvested area
The U.S. Department of Agriculture raised its U.S. corn production forecast on Wednesday as a larger harvested area more than offset a larger-than-expected cut to its outlook for national average corn yield.
The USDA projected the average 2026 U.S. corn yield at 180.7 bushels per acre (bpa), down from its forecast of 183.0 bpa a month ago, while the agency's harvested acreage outlook increased to 88.6 million acres, from 87.4 million acres a month ago. Production was increased to 16.013 billion bushels, up slightly from its July forecast of 16.000 billion bushels.
For soybeans, the USDA trimmed its 2026 U.S. yield forecast to 52.7 bpa, down from 53.0 bpa a month earlier. Production was projected at 4.519 billion bushels, up from 4.475 billion bushels a month earlier.
