News

Weather variability shapes crop outlook across Midwest

Farmers are reflecting on the 2026 growing season as Farm Progress Show continues.

Eastern Iowa farmer Dave Walton says soybean pod counts are currently strong, but his corn crop will be variable.

“I don’t think we’ve got the crop that we’ve had the last two years,” Walton said. “The price has helped, so revenue break shouldn’t be too far off from what we expect.”

South-central Ohio farmer Scott Metzger says his area was impacted by frost during May.

“It hurt our wheat yields this year, our wheat yields were down quite a bit from where they normally are,” Metzger said. “We did have to re-plant 160 acres of beans.”

Des Moines County, Iowa farmer Dan Keitzer tells Brownfield it’s been a trying growing season, but he’s optimistic about corn harvest.

“When I go look at ears, they look good, but I think the kernel depth may be a little light on them,” Keitzer said. “But I think we’ve got an average crop coming on in our area.”

The three farmers each said variable weather conditions have been some of their biggest challenges throughout the growing season.

AUDIO: Scott Metzger and Dave Walton

AUDIO: Dan Keitzer