2026 Crop Tour - Day 1
Crop Tour
Day 1 started in Sioux County, Iowa, where there were some signs of hail and wind damage west of Hull. The area has received nearly 9 inches of rainfall this crop year, along with some excess heat this has caused the crop to mature quickly. Despite concerns about rapid growth and some weather damage, crop conditions were very consistent with dark green corn across much of the county. Our samples averaged 235 bushels per acre, they did miss on the last heavy rain, with some key rains going forward Sioux county should be able to compete with last years numbers.
Cedar County, Nebraska
As we moved into Cedar County, Nebraska, crop conditions changed considerably. The county has received only 6.7 inches of rainfall from May through July, or roughly 66% of normal precipitation. Heat stress was evident across much of the area, especially on sandier and dryland acres. Recent rainfall helped revive the crop, but missing several expected rain events could limit yield potential. Our estimates were around 170 bushels per acre on non-irrigated acres and 210 bushels per acre on irrigated ground.
York County, Nebraska
Our final stop was York County, Nebraska, where crop conditions looked much better. The county has received above-average rainfall and showed little to no signs of stress. Samples were strong, and the area is in a good position to post excellent yields. While southern Nebraska has strong yield potential, the northeastern part of the state has missed key rainfall events and may keep Nebraska from reaching record yields overall.
Nebraska Summary
Nebraska is showing a wide range of crop conditions depending on rainfall totals. Southern parts of the state appear to have strong yield potential, while northeastern Nebraska has been hurt by below-average precipitation and heat stress. If Nebraska is going to exceed expectations, the southern part of the state will need to carry the average. The finish to the growing season will be the determining factor. With all this in mind we think Nebraska comes in around a 185 average comparable to the 5 year average.
