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USDA 2026 corn, soybean estimates shift on yield changes
The USDA has lowered its 2026 U.S. corn production guess while raising the outlook for soybeans.
As of September 1st, this year’s corn crop is seen at 15.8 billion bushels, down 1% from August and 7% from 2025, but still the second largest on record, if realized.
The USDA trimmed the yield estimate by 2.2 bushels to 178.5 bushels per acre after hot, dry finishing weather in parts of the region, with minor adjustments to acreage, now at 96.777 million for planted area and 88.506 million for harvested area.
In 2025, the U.S. produced 17.021 billion bushels of corn with an average yield of 186.5 bushels per acre on planted area of 98.788 million acres and harvested area of 91.258 million acres.
Soybeans are pegged at 4.535 billion bushels, almost 1% less than last month, but potentially an all-time high and 6% more than last year.
The average yield is projected at 52.8 bushels per acre, up 0.1, with USDA also making modest increases to planted and harvested area, now at 88.865 million and 85.881 million acres, respectively.
A year ago, U.S. soybean production was 4.262 billion bushels with an average yield of 53 bushels per acre on planted area of 81.215 million acres and harvested area of 80.437 million acres.
The lower production projection for corn contributed to a tighter new crop ending stocks number, while soybean ending stocks were down on demand.
The numbers will continue to change as harvest advances.
The USDA’s next look at supply, demand, and production is out October 9th.
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