January 17, 2024

Iowa, US corn yields remain strong despite lingering drought conditions

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Iowa, US achieved an average corn yield of about 201 bushels per acre in the past year, surpassing the yields of the previous year and stands as the fourth highest in the state's history, Iowa Capital Dispatch reported.

This figure increased by one bushel per acre from earlier USDA estimates during the recent harvest, falling just three bushels short of the record set in 2021. These achievements occurred despite enduring drought conditions persisting in the state for over three years.

Iowa's corn production for grain reached approximately 2.52 billion bushels in 2023, marking the state's fifth-highest total for a single year. Mike Naig, the state's agriculture secretary, attributes this success to timely rains, the resilience of Iowa farmers, and continuous advancements in genetics, traits, equipment, technology, and production methods.

Comparatively, Illinois, experiencing fewer impacts from drought, boasted a higher average corn yield of 206 bushels per acre. However, Iowa outshone by planting about 15% more acres of corn.

On a national scale, the USDA estimates that both corn yields and total production achieved record-breaking levels, averaging about 177.3 bushels per acre, with a total production of around 15.3 billion bushels.

Iowa's soybean production in 2023 also demonstrated strength, with an average yield of 58 bushels per acre, ranking as the state's fourth highest. The total soybean production reached about 573 million bushels, marking the state's third highest.

Despite these agricultural accomplishments, drought conditions are expected to persist in much of Iowa until at least the end of March, according to the federal Climate Prediction Centre. Presently, around 83% of the state is grappling with some degree of drought, with approximately a third of Iowa experiencing extreme drought - the second-to-worst classification. This represents a significant deterioration compared to a year ago when just over half of the state faced drought conditions.

-       Iowa Capital Dispatch