Aug 19, 2026
Corn Yield Lowered 1.0 bu. to 180.0 bu/ac, Storms Cause Damage
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
The 2026 U.S. corn yield was lowered 1.0 bushel this week to 180.0 bu/ac with a neutral to lower bias. Corn is now rated 60% good to excellent, down 1% from last week.
August Crop Report - The August Crop Report increased the corn harvested acreage 1.2 million acres to 88.59 million acres while the nationwide yield was lowered 2.3 bushels to 180.7 bu/ac. The planted and harvested acreage increased more than expected due to a reduction in other crops and probably less prevent plant acres compared to average. The harvested acreage represents 91.6% of the planted acreage. For the time being, I am going to use the USDA's harvested acreage, but that number may be trimmed in the future, once the extent of the storm damage is determined.
The USDA's corn yield of 180.7 bu/ac came in very close to my estimate of 181.0 bu/ac. The weather last week was a "double edged sword." Needed rainfall occurred in much of the dryer areas of the western and northwestern Corn Belt, but more rain is needed. In contrast, severe storms with high winds and heavy rain repeatedly hammered areas from Iowa, through Illinois and on to Indiana and Ohio. These eastern areas need dryer weather, which is ironic given it is mid-August.
The rain helped some of the western areas, while the repeated high winds and heavy rain probably hurt some the eastern areas. In the more southern areas, hot and dry conditions during the day and high nighttime temperatures negatively impacted the corn. Therefore, the nationwide corn yield was lowered 1.0 bushel this week to 180.0 bu/ac with a neutral bias.
The weather this week is expected to be cooler and dryer than this past week, especially across the central Corn Belt. Rainfall this week should favor most of the Midwest, but dryness will linger in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Dryer weather will return to most of the Corn Belt in the 6-10 day period.
Interesting side note - Unfortunately, Illinois has become the new "tornado alley" at least for 2026. As of this writing, Illinois has recorded approximately 220 tornadoes thus far in 2026. Most of the tornadoes are small - F0, F1, or F2 and they have been accompanied by straight-line winds of up to 100 mph or more. This pattern has been recurring for the last several months in Illinois.