Eventful crop year comes to a close

As another harvest draws to a close, farmers offer different perspectives on this crop year.

For some, yields were mostly good, although they faced high input costs and relatively low crop prices. For others, hopes of a record crop in the summer faded as rains stopped and yields were more moderate.

Ample summer rains in some areas led to increased disease pressure, but many university weed scientists say it was a year of pretty decent weed control.

The monthly USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate reports provide a picture of the crops as the year unfolds, with the USDA adjusting its total yield estimates as the year goes on.

After the September 2025 report, there was no October report released due to the government shutdown, leading to a much- 

anticipated November report after the shutdown had ended.

“Probably the biggest number the trade was looking for was the national average corn and soybean yields,” said Joe Janzen, University of Illinois ag economist.

The November report showed lower national yield estimates, although not as much lower as many analysts expected, he said. In short, the crop potential faded late in the growing season, but not by an enormous amount in terms of the national average.

“They lowered their corn yield estimates, but by less than

1 bushel per acre, from 186.7 bushels per acre to 186 bushels per acre,” Janzen said. “Soybean yield dropped from 53.5 to 53 bushels per acre.”