USDA: Farmers Planting Less Corn and More Soybeans in 2026

The USDA released its August 2026 Crop Production Report that showed corn production for grain forecast at 16 billion bushels, down six percent from last year. However, if realized, it would still be the second-highest production on record. The average yield is forecast at 180.7 bushels per acre, down almost six bushels from 2025. Soybean production is forecast at 4.52 billion bushels, six percent above last year. Soybean yield is forecast at 52.7 bushels an acre, down slightly from 2025. The all-cotton production forecast is for 13.6 million 480-pound bales, two percent below last year. The average yield forecast is 798 pounds per harvested acre, down 54 pounds from 2025. The all-wheat production forecast for grain is 1.53 billion bushels, down 23 percent from 2025, with the average yield expected to be 47.8 bushels an acre, 5.5 bushels below last year. Winter wheat production is forecast at 990 million bushels, 29 percent less than in 2025. The average yield forecast is 47 bushels per acre, almost eight bushels below last year.