Indiana Harvested Record Number of Corn and Soybeans in 2023

By Clayton Baumgarth

On Friday the USDA released its January World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, which announced record yields in the nation’s corn crop production. 

Average corn yields hit a record 177.3 bushels per acre with a total production of 15.34 billion bushels. Soybean yields were high but not record breaking, with a national average of 50.6 bushels per acre and a total production of 4.17 billion bushels reported. 

In Indiana, Hoosier producers had record yields for corn and soybeans at 203 and 61 bushels per acre respectively. 

Todd Davis, chief economist for the Indiana Farm Bureau, said the records were possible, despite challenging dryness, thanks to timely rains.

“You might hear farmers talking about million-dollar rains,” he said. “And we had those timely rains that helped the crops develop.”

Davis said strong crop genetics were another key factor that helped with overall crop yields.

Higher diesel and fertilizer prices are squeezing farm profit margins ahead of the midterm elections. Farmers in Iowa and Kansas discuss rising harvest costs, the war in Iran and whether those pressures will change their votes. Peter Tubbs reports on the debate over farm input costs and the differing political responses across the Corn Belt.