Harvest Your Independence Tour

Harvest of a Lifetime: Farmer Sees Record Corn Yields in Southern Minnesota

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 01:43:52 GMT

In Southern Minnesota farmers are done with the soybean harvest and are quickly moving through corn with the help of Mother Nature.

While the corn crop in other areas of the Corn Belt has fallen short of the hype, that wasn’t the case for Mike Madsen of Heron Lake, who was in a garden spot. “We seen things we’ve never seen on yield monitors before,” he said.

This fall, Madsen is having the corn harvest of a lifetime. “It’ll be the best year in my career and I think in a lot of local farmers careers that have been farming for 30 or 40 years,” Madsen said.

Record Corn Yields Started at Planting

Madsen says it began this spring with one of the fastest planting seasons ever on his farm. “It was early and it was quick,” explains Madsen. “So, that just that’s how this yield thing started was with our early planting, especially in the corn.”

That lead to a perfect stand, followed by a nearly ideal agronomic growing season.

Perfect Growing Season

“We only dream of seasons like this where you get a shot of rain every four to five days,” adds Madsen. “That pretty much held true from planting through corn pollination.”

Madsen says the corn also escaped the hot nighttime temperatures during pollination and fill that hurt test weights and yields in other areas of the Corn Belt.

“Our nighttime temperatures are what I think brings on a lot of this yield,” said Madsen. “We were under that 70 degree mark all but a couple nights in August.”

Corn Dodged Disease Pressure

Southern Minnesota farmers were also able to dodge some of the heavy disease pressure in corn like Southern Rust thanks to the added protection of fungicides.

“The early sprayed corn is [seeing] a 10 to 20 bushel increase,” explains Madsen. “If you sprayed later then there is an even better return. There’s been some talk of a 30 to 70 bushel increase from spraying fungicide this year.”

Record Corn Yields at 250 Plus

Madsen’s corn yields at harvest are 20 to 30 bushels over his Actual Production History or APH, with even the early maturities exceeding expectations.

“Our 100 day and under was running 220 to 240,” counts Madsen. “As we get into harvest, now we’re into our later corn, which is anywhere from 100 to even up to 110 day maturity. We’re seeing 250 bushels plus.”

So, 2025 will go down in history as a record corn yield on the Madsen farm. And with those kind of results across the lower third of the state, he thinks Minnesota’s statewide corn yield could even top Iowa and Illinois this year.

Corn is Dry

Early corn was also dry at 15% to 16% moisture, the later corn is a bit wetter but it will save him on drying costs.
“The 100 to 110 days are between 17% and 18%,” Madsen said. “We can manage that in the grain bins with some air on it.” Which is good as he’s storing most of his corn and soybean crop this fall due to the low prices.

Soybean Yields Disappointing

Madsen’s soybean harvest was done on October 9. He says his crop missed key August rains and saw early disease pressure from white mold tied to early planting. While bean yields were well above average in his area, they were disappointing on his farm.

“Yields were around 60 bushels per acre and we were a little bit under that and so it wasn’t a total train wreck,” said Madsen. “It was way better than last year so we’ll take it.”

Wisconsin Farmers Battle Remnants of Big August Rain and Disease Pressure at Harvest

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 21:33:13 GMT

A slow start to the day due to drizzle is the perfect opportunity to get grain to the dryer.

“Three weeks ago we did some corn just to test everything, and it was 28% to 29% moisture,” explains Casey Kelleher, a farmer in Whitewater, Wis. “We got back into it last week, and it was down to 18%. Now we’re into some 15%, and it’s going right into the bin.”

That quick dry down is keeping their harvest pace high and trucks rolling across their on-farm scales.

“We got beans done in about a week,” Kelleher says.

Big August Rain

That quick turn followed a challenging finish for the crop, which saw a massive 11" to 13" rain in early August.

“The biggest impact we saw was in soybeans,” Kelleher says. “It brought in disease, even though we had treated with fungicide and really killed our yield. It’s still a respectable yield, but not what we were expecting going into pod fill.”

While disease took a bite out of beans, Kelleher credits that timely fungicide application for preserving the crop as he watched disease pressure ravage the corn belt.

“If you walk and look at our corn, we have tar spot,” he admits. “Iowa and southwest Wisconsin got hit with a southern rust pretty bad. We had a little bit; we were fortunate it didn’t come in until late.”

Casey Kelleher farms in Whitewater, WI

(Wyffels)

Yields Keep Pace with 2024

As their combines roll into corn this week, the yield results are proving respectable.

“I think it’ll be just a touch better than last year,” he says as 240 flashes across the yield monitor (although he doesn’t always trust its accuracy). “Test weights are probably the same to a little better than last year.”

Today, they’re harvesting a farm that was underwater during that big August rain.

“We had to pump water off because the water was as high as the ears in some spots,” Kelleher says. “We got it off fast enough that it didn’t take the crop down.”

The biggest challenge this harvest has been back at the bin and deciding what needs to go through the dryer. Much of the corn is within a point of being dry enough, and so it’s forcing them to mix and match and make decisions load by load.

Input Costs Top 2026 Concerns

It’s all part of the harvest process as this Wisconsin team hustles toward the finish line of 2025 and makes plans for 2026.

“At the top of my list are input prices,” Kelleher says. “We’ve been so religious with putting down inputs, not over-applying, but using our variable rate prescriptions to put on what we need, where we need it for the yield we’re getting, but we’re going to cut back this year just because of the prices. I mean, you’ve got to be able to try to turn a profit and not put it all into the ground.”

They continue to face the unknowns of the future while counting this season’s performance in the present. Fundamental agronomy, timely applications and reasonable weather teamed up for this farmer to hit their 2025 expectations.

‘It’s Disappointing:’ Central Iowa Farmer Says Corn Yields Are 30 to 40 Bu. Per Acre Lower Than Last Year

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:24:15 GMT

What’s usually a rare sight this harvest season — a rain delay — briefly halted work for Ward and Bryant Hunter.

An inch of rain Sunday night was enough to pause the combines, but the father-son duo was soon back in the field, continuing a steady rhythm of harvest that’s been possible thanks to a remarkably dry fall.

“We started combining beans on Sept. 11 or 12,” says Ward Hunter. “We got started early, then had a week of rainy weather. And now the last 10 days or so we’ve been hard at it until the rain last night.”

When we visited the Hunters in the spring, dry weather pushed their Boone County farm to a record planting pace. Corn and soybeans both went in early, setting the stage for what looked like a blockbuster year. And while soybeans have lived up to expectations, the same can’t be said for corn.

“Beans — we have a lot of fields that are the best ever,” Ward says. “From mid-60s to mid-80s [bu. per acre], which is really good for this area. Corn, though, has been disappointing compared to what the beans were — real disappointing.”

Hunter says corn yields so far are averaging around 220 bu. per acre, roughly at their APH (actual production history). But that’s 30 bu. to 40 bu. below the past two years, when the farm hit the low 250s and 260s.

“Corn, though, has been disappointing compared to what the beans were — real disappointing.”

Ward Hunter, Farmer in Ogden, Iowa

The reason, Hunter says, is simple: southern rust.

“By June 15, we really thought we’d have the best year ever,” Ward says. “Then southern rust hit — as you’ve heard from everybody — a lot of southern rust. We also got about 30" of rain from July 1 through about Aug. 10. The disease was the big kicker.”

Had it not been for the fast-moving fungal disease, Ward believes their corn could have hit record levels — perhaps 270 bu. per acre in central Iowa.

“You’ll see yields in beans go from 40 in the wet spots to over 100 on the yield monitor.”

Ward Hunter, Farmer, Ogden, Iowa

His son, Bryant Hunter, remembers spotting the early signs as they were preparing to spray fungicide in mid-July.

“About the time we were getting ready to apply, we started seeing the rust,” Bryant says. “We were scouting to make sure it was the perfect time, and we caught it just as it was coming in.”

While the Hunters never skip a fungicide pass, Ward says those who tried to save on input costs this year likely paid the price.

“You only hear the horror stories, but some guys saw 50- or 60-bu. hits,” he says. “Some who did a second fungicide pass, even a generic one, saw another 20- or 30-bu. boost. This would’ve been the year to do two.”

As harvest continues, the Hunters expect about three more weeks in the field. The biggest takeaway this year? Extreme variability.

“You’ll see yields in beans go from 40 in the wet spots to over 100 on the yield monitor,” Ward says. “Corn will be the same way.”

Despite the disappointment in corn, soybeans have provided a bright spot — a rare balance in a year marked by weather extremes, crop disease and surprising outcomes.

“Soybean yields were a positive surprise,” Bryant says. “Corn yields were a negative one.”

For many Iowa farmers, that sums up 2025: a harvest of highs and lows, with southern rust turning what looked like a record-breaking season into a reminder that in farming, nothing is guaranteed.

Record Corn Yield Potential in Northeast Iowa Cut 30-Plus Bushels Due to Disease

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:03:55 GMT

USDA is estimating near record corn and soybean crops in Iowa this year, but early yields results indicate that might be difficult to achieve, at least for corn.

At the Reints farm in northeast Iowa, corn yields have been running above last year, but they left a lot of yield potential in the field due to disease.

“It’s still a good crop out there,” says Shell Rock, Iowa, farmer Clay Reints, as he hauls this year’s corn crop to the grain bin site on his farm.

2025 Started as Perfect Growing Season

2025 began as a perfect growing season with the setup to produce a record crop.

“In that second week or third week in July, man, the stuff was looking fantastic,” Reints says. “We really thought we had a monster crop out there.”

That crop potential was supported by ample moisture, according to Clay’s dad and farming partner Jeff.

“We’re 9" above normal rainfall from planting date to Sept. 4,” he says.

Disease Trims Corn Yield

However, by August disease hit the corn crop, including a rare strain detected in all 99 counties in Iowa.

Jeff says: “This southern rust came on so quick and fast and people really weren’t that aware of it. It caught a lot of people by surprise.”

While combining in the cab, Jeff talks about the ROI on fungicide this year to combat diseases.

“We’re seeing definitely a 30 bu. gain where we put on fungicide,” he explains. “You invested basically 9 bu. of corn to get 30 back. That’s over a 300% return on your investment. I’ll take that every day.”

Test Weights on Corn Preserved With Fungicide

Reints says some of that yield is also coming from test weights, which are running from 55.5 lb. to 57 lb. on corn.

“We got a good size ear filled out to the tip, excellent pollination,” he says. “We break that open, and see a real good kernel size.”

Reints says the key to that kernel depth, came from using fungicide to curb disease pressure.

Disease Trimmed Top End Yield Potential

While corn yields will be above Reint’s actual production history (APH), Jeff thinks they still left potential in the field due to disease, and it’s evident as the combine rolls.

“This particular field we’re running in that 240 to 250,” he says. “Some earlier corn we’ve done was more in that 220 to 225 range. A good normal crop, but not quite the crop we expected.”

USDA has Iowa corn yields pegged at 219 bu. per acre, but Jeff is doubtful they can reach that.

“I don’t see the whole state averaging that 219,” he says.

Soybean Yields Exceed Expectations

Conversely, early soybean yields are exceeding his expectations, running 10 bu. to 15 bu. above his APH.

“Yields are running in that mid-70s. It’s fun to watch the monitors set above 80, quite a ways across the field,” Jeff says.

Reints attributes the strong finish to timely moisture, low disease pressure and larger seed size.

“It doesn’t seem like we aborted many pods, and those top pods, that top 6" of plant, when that fills out, you know, you’re gonna have a good bean year,” he says.

Illinois Farmer Says Despite Disease Pressure, Yields are Similar to 2024 Harvest

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:20:12 GMT

Favorable harvest weather is pushing more combines out into the field as USDA says 11% of the nation’s corn crop and 9% of soybeans have been harvested. In Illinois, farmers are ahead of the five-year average.

“So far so good,” says Brian Parkinson, a farmer in Wataga, Ill. “We’re just really getting started.”

He and his brother, Rod, along with Rod’s son, Austin, opened their first corn field on Monday. While they’re still calibrating and getting equipment sorted, early yields are keeping pace with 2024 and in the 250 bushels per acre range.

“It’s looking good so far,” Rod echoes. “Right now the corn is about 21.5% moisture, and so it’s changed a lot in a week.”

The hum of the header rumbles down the rows as the Parkinson combine chews through these first fields. The soybeans they harvested last week tallied in the 80 bushel range.

“We cut beans last week because the corn was too wet,” Rod explains. “Luckily, we had some early group 2.7 and 3.1 soybeans that were ready.”

Rod Parkinson farms near Wataga, IL

(Wyffels)

They stayed out of the corn for a few extra days to save money on drying costs. This week, as the yield monitor tallies the haul, it’s proving to have been a good decision.

“The general consensus is the crop is very good,” Rod says. “Yields may be a little bit less than a year ago but they are very solid.”

An Imperfect Season

That’s good news after what’s been a season of uncertainty following concerns about disease pressure and spotty rains in August.

“The disease pressure was definitely more than normal,” Rod says. “There’s still a fair amount of disease. You can see a lot of tar spot. There’s gray leaf spot on these plants. I would say this is probably the worst disease pressure we’ve seen in quite a while.”

In their pocket of the Midwest, the disease showed up late, and fungicides seemed to help in most cases.

“From the guys who have been in the field, fungicide is probably providing a 10-to-20-bu. advantage on a one-pass, over-the-top program,” Rod says. “If fungicide didn’t pay this year, it’s never going to pay.”

An expense that didn’t go unnoticed, given the challenges of the 2025 farm economy. Rod’s advice is to trust the numbers.

“Most people have been farming a long time,” Rod says. “Do what you know works and do the things that have a return on investment.”

Focus on the Future

For them, getting it right is a chance to spend another season in the family business.

“Our great-grandfather bought this farm in 1920,” Rod says. “His name was Frank Parkinson.”

“It’s a family tradition, I guess,” Brian laughs. “I think Rod and I are now the fifth generation.”

As this team works to harvest the excitement of the 2025 crop, they’re also optimistic about the future.

“I think I have the best job in the world, to be able to farm and sell seed,” Rod says. “We just hope the market comes back some. We’ll keep moving. We’ve seen it before.”

West Central Illinois Farmer Says Corn Yields Are Down 20 to 30 Bu. Per Acre From Last Year

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 12:25:15 GMT

Perched on the edge of what’s considered to be abnormally dry to moderate drought, west central Illinois farmer Brent Johnson had high hopes for yields at the start of this year. A strong start with even emergence set the groundwork for a solid crop. Instead, as harvest rushes in, the reality of an extremely dry finish to summer is also setting in.

“The corn right now, the general consensus is it’s off 20 to 30 bushels [per acre] from last year and soybeans are off by about 8 to 15 [bu. per acre],” Johnson says.

Johnson started combining on September 3. Two weeks into harvest, he’s finding a good crop — but definitely not as good as last year.

“We didn’t have the finish that we did last year in corn or soybeans. Nothing is ideal, right? But with 98 million acres of corn, maybe we didn’t need that finish. But yields are off,” he says.

Latest look at the U.S. Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry to severe drought conditions across much of the growing region, including Illinois. It’s was a dramatic shift after such a wet start to the growing season.

(U.S. Drought Monitor )

Some of Johnson’s fields haven’t seen rain in seven weeks. For other fields, it’s been as much as nine months since they’ve had measurable rainfall. And not only has it turned dry in their area of Illinois, but temperatures have soared over the past couple of weeks with temperatures above 90°F. In fact, where he farms just outside of Springfield, Ill., they recorded the hottest day of the year so far over the weekend.

“Oddly enough, as much heat as we’ve received, the corn is not drying as fast as I thought it would,” Johnson says. “We tried to harvest a field this morning that was planted end of April and it was still 30% moisture. So, we moved and we’re here now.”

Not Just Drought Eating Into Yields

Johnson says the dry weather definitely trimmed yield in their area, but there were other factors he thinks played a role as well.

“Between the dry weather, the extreme heat, the high nighttime temperatures — and then something we don’t often see — but the hazy days, the Canadian smoke, it impacted the crop. It just wasn’t a perfect year,” he says.

Kernel Weight is an Issue This Year

Johnson says the other surprise is kernel weights, and the fact it’s taking more kernels to make a bushel this year.

“That’s really where we see our highest yields year in, year out is when we have good, easy finishes to this corn crop in August and September, and we bring it to the finish line slowly. We expand those kernels. It’s kind of like going back to a buffet three, four or five times and finishing off that bowl of ice cream. They just swell, and that’s where we get our kernel weight. We don’t have that this year. We’re just racing to the finishing line,” Johnson says.

May Planted Corn May Be Hit the Hardest

The opposite happened this year. A quick finish is compromising kernel weight. And now what he’s concerned about is what the late-summer dryness could mean for his later-planted corn.

“I am a little concerned that maybe the May corn won’t be as good as it normally is because of the weather — similar to what we talked about with the later-maturity beans finishing later. So, it’s going be interesting,” Johnson says.

Johnson says for the past several years, his May planted corn has been his best yielding corn. But this year, he doubts that will hold true. He says some of his corn and soybean fields could still benefit from a rain, but it doesn’t look promising from the forecast.

Dry Weather Means Disease Pressure is Low

It may not be a perfect finish or a record crop, but one thing Johnson is thankful for is that they haven’t been overwhelmed by disease.

“Because we were so dry — we were much drier here than Iowa — we don’t have the Southern Rust pressure here that I’m seeing on social media and reading about that Iowa has,” he adds.

Soybean Yields Could Suffer

Johnson says even though yields are off, he’s actually impressed with how this corn crop finished this year in spite of the lack of rain and the heat. But with no rain in August, soybeans could be a different story.

“Beans are tricky so far because normally, we would be running pretty hard in. We use a fungicide, so we’re used to green stems and some green pods. But the beans are not maturing all at one time from what we’ve seen. So, the moisture in our sample of beans is relative to how many green beans and how many green pods are actually in the sample when they pull it at the elevator. We have yet to get a very good sample in beans, but again, we’ve only cut two fields. They were disappointing in yield. [We were] thinking that our late Group 2s would be some of our best, which gives me worry about some of the later stuff,” Johnson says.

Johnson says he if he had to describe this year’s crop, it would be “just ho-hum.”

A ho-hum crop, and one that had such a promising start here in west central Illinois, reveals record yields aren’t on tap in Illinois this year.

What caused the sudden shift to dry and hot weather? Watch the video below as Drew Lerner of World Weather looks at the drivers and how long it could last.