Corn and Soybean Production Could be Close to Record Highs this Year, USDA Predicts

This year, the amount of corn and soybeans produced is expected to be the second- and third-highest, respectively, on record. 

High yields in both crops are expected in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to a recent report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

The federal government predicts there will be 15 billion bushels of corn and 4.37 billion bushels of soybeans produced this year — a 5.7% increase from 2020.

The top two states by crop production, Iowa and Illinois, are expected to produce 7.4% and 8.4% more corn and 19.7% and 11.6% more soybeans, respectively.
However, extreme weather might affect production in other states.

“Hurricane Ida’s impacts, which included flooding rains, damaging winds, power outages, and a coastal storm surge, were still being assessed,” the USDA said in its report.

The late-August hurricane became the strongest storm to hit Louisiana's coastline and moved through the state’s sugarcane, rice and cotton fields.