Aug 06, 2026
U.S. Soybean Yield Unchanged at 52.0 bu/ac
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
The 2026 U.S. soybean yield is unchanged this week to 52.0 bu/ac with a neutral to lower bias. Soybeans are now rated 63%, unchanged from last week.
A slow-moving cut-off low pressure system moved across the Midwest late last week and over the weekend bringing widespread showers to most regions of the Corn Belt. Rainfall amounts were heaviest from southern Minnesota southeastward through northern Illinois central Indiana and western Ohio. That comes on the heels of rain earlier last week in north-central and western regions. Hot temperatures earlier last week gave way to a cool down by the end of the week and over the weekend.
The forecast for this week looks favorable for crop development with increased soil moisture and cooler temperatures. These conditions should favor soybean flowering, pod set, and early pod filling. As of Sunday, 75% of the soybeans in Minnesota were setting pods, 61% in Iowa, 61% in Nebraska, 48% in South Dakota, and 59% in North Dakota.
The U.S. soybean yield was left unchanged this week at 52.0 bu/ac with a neutral to lower bias. Weather during the remainder of August could still impact the soybean crop, but August weather is off to a good start.
As indicated in last week's report, five western states equate to 39.4% of the U.S. soybean acreage with Iowa at (11.7%), Minnesota (8.3%), North Dakota (7.0%), South Dakota (6.5%), and Nebraska (5.9%). If the soybean yield in those five states declined by an average of 5%, it would equate to a 1 bushel decline nationwide. A 10% reduction would equate to a 2 bushel decline nationwide.
I have adopted the USDA's soybean acreage, but it is possible that the harvested acreage may end up slightly lower than the current estimate from the USDA.