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Iowa State educator says farmers leaning toward more corn in 2026

An extension educator suggests farmers in his area are leaning toward more corn in 2026. 

Dennis Johnson with Iowa State University is based in north-central Iowa.

“I just did some surveys and looked at some surveys that we do with everybody in the fall, kind of forecasting as far as what can happen the next year. And so far maybe leaning a little bit more toward the corn again.”

He tells Brownfield fall fertilizer applications can indicate which crop a grower plans to plant the next year.

“Of course corn needs a lot more nitrogen, more fertilizer for sure. So I’d say fertilizer consumption probably will go up this coming growing season.”

Johnson encourages farmers to look beyond the past year when making management decisions, and points out southern rust was a big problem in corn this year but is not a common pest for the region.