USDA Crop Report shows record corn and soybean yields in 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released their annual report on crop production in mid-Janaury. That report indicated that ten states set new all‑time record corn yields in 2025. These records were driven by unusually favorable summer weather and a strong kernel set across much of the Corn Belt. As farmers might say, "Right weather at the right time."

Soybean yield also set a new record at 53 bpa.

States setting a new all-time high for corn yield include:

• Georgia

• Indiana

• Louisiana

• Minnesota

• Nebraska

• North Dakota

• South Dakota

• Virginia

• Washington

• Wisconsin

In summary, the USDA reported:

Corn for grain production in 2025 was estimated at a record high 17.0 billion bushels, up 14 percent from the 2024 estimate. The average yield in the United States was estimated at a record high 186.5 bushels per acre, 7.2 bushels above the 2024 yield of 179.3 bushels per acre. Area harvested for grain was estimated at 91.3 million acres, up 10 percent from the 2024 estimate.

Image credit - Mark Stebnicki

Sorghum: Grain production in 2025 was estimated 437 million bushels, up 27 percent from the 2024 total. Planted area for 2025 was estimated at 6.64 million acres, up 5 percent from 2024. Area harvested for grain, at 6.02 million acres, was up 7 percent from 2024. Grain yield was estimated at 72.6 bushels per acre, up 11.3 bushels from 2024.

Rice: Production in 2025 totaled 207 million cwt, down 7 percent from the 2024 total. Planted area for 2025 was estimated at 2.81 million acres, down 4 percent from 2024. Area harvested, at 2.74 million acres, was down 5 percent from the previous crop year. The average yield for all United States rice was estimated at 7,544 pounds per acre, down 209 pounds from 2024.

Soybean production in 2025 totaled 4.26 billion bushels, down 3 percent from 2024. The average yield per acre was estimated at a record high 53.0 bushels per acre, up 2.3 bushels from 2024. Harvested area, at 80.4 million acres, was down 7 percent from last year.

All cotton production is estimated at 13.9 million 480-pound bales, down 3 percent from 2024. The United States yield is estimated at 856 pounds per acre, down 30 pounds from last year. Harvested area, at 7.80 million acres, is down slightly from last year.