DTN Digital Yield Tour 2026
Results From the 2026 DTN Digital Yield Tour
This page was last updated at 8:22 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
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One year after U.S. farmers set all-time national average yield records for both corn and soybeans, DTN's proprietary yield models are signaling a smaller harvest ahead -- with current projections falling below USDA trendline estimates.
The 2026 DTN Digital Yield Tour kicked off Monday, Aug. 10, releasing the tour's first-ever national yield estimates. Based on DTN's models as of Aug. 1, the national average corn yield is projected at 178.5 bushels per acre (bpa) and soybeans at 52.1 bpa.
Those numbers trail USDA's most recent World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE), which pegged national average corn yield at 183.0 bpa and soybeans at 53.0 bpa. USDA's projections assume normal planting progress and summer growing conditions; DTN's models, which update every two weeks, do not incorporate weather forecasts.
Now in its ninth season, the DTN Digital Yield Tour is in its third year using DTN's proprietary crop yield models. The team combines data-driven, view-from-above forecasts with boots-on-the-ground insight from farmers, agronomists and other experts to paint a picture of yield potential as crops push toward the finish line.
Throughout the week, DTN will publish crop details for 11 states, plus a "Best of the Rest" roundup covering five additional states.
ABOUT THE DTN MODEL
DTN's yield models forecast at the field level using a wide array of publicly available data, such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) maps, growing degree days, USDA crop condition reports and more. They also include DTN's proprietary weather and soil data, making them unique.
DTN's model methodology is also unique in that the models are trained on USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) yield data, rather than monthly estimates prepared by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). RMA's data is compiled using crop insurance data, while NASS surveys farmers to build its county yield estimates. RMA's county yields tend to be higher than those reported by NASS, but the differences vary by county and region. By using RMA data, DTN can generate countywide forecasts for places with limited crop production.
The DTN data science team rolls its granular forecasts into county, state and national averages. While not released during last year's DTN Digital Yield Tour, the team did construct national average yield estimates based on the model run of Aug. 1, 2025, arriving at yield estimates of 186.8 bpa for corn and 51.5 bpa for soybeans. In its final Crop Production Summary report, USDA placed the 2025 national average yields at 186.5 bpa and 53.0 bpa, respectively, for the two crops.
Updated yield model results will be shared in early September on DTN's online products. You can view a Reporter's Notebook that previewed the Digital Yield Tour at https://www.dtnpf.com/…. On Aug. 14, you can find the post-tour Reporter's Notebook video at https://www.dtnpf.com/…. Also, later in August, you can hear a Field Posts Podcast about the tour results at https://www.dtnpf.com/….
Below, you'll find a table of DTN Digital Yield Tour results as well as links to articles on each state, related information on DTN's methodology and associated video content.
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2026 DIGITAL YIELD TOUR STORIESPREVIEW (Friday, Aug. 7):
"2026 DTN Digital Yield Tour Preview," https://www.dtnpf.com/…
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For the first time, the DTN Digital Yield Tour will include national yield estimates for corn and soybeans generated by DTN's proprietary yield models.
Monday, Aug. 10:-- National
"DTN Digital Yield Tour Estimates US Average of 178.5 BPA Corn, 52.1 BPA Soybeans for 2026," https://www.dtnpf.com/…
The 2026 DTN Digital Yield Tour kicked off Monday, Aug. 10, with the release of the tour's first-ever national yield estimates. According to yield models as of Aug. 1, DTN predicts a national average corn yield of 178.5 bushels per acre (bpa) and an average soybean yield of 52.1 bpa in 2026.
-- Illinois
"Illinois Yield Estimates Reflect Tough June and July," https://www.dtnpf.com/…
The 2026 DTN Digital Yield Tour predicts Illinois corn and soybean yields below the USDA RMA five-year averages for both crops, with corn off by nearly 10 bushels per acre (bpa), reflecting weather-related concerns that have haunted pockets of the state. According to yield models as of Aug. 1, DTN predicts an Illinois state average corn yield of 210.3 bpa and an average soybean yield of 64.7 bpa in 2026.
-- Wisconsin
"Wisconsin Farmers Deal With Dry Spells and 'So Many Extremes'," https://www.dtnpf.com/…
The 2026 DTN Digital Yield Tour predicts Wisconsin corn and soybeans to finish slightly below the USDA RMA five-year average. According to yield models as of Aug. 1, DTN predicts a Wisconsin state average corn yield of 187.2 bpa and an average soybean yield of 52.2 bpa in 2026.
Tuesday, Aug. 11:-- Iowa
"No Yield Record Likely in Iowa, But DTN Still Projects 214 BPA Corn Crop," https://www.dtnpf.com/…
Some early stages of drought could affect yields in some Iowa counties, but the 2026 DTN Digital Yield Tour still forecasts a strong crop yield that will be among the state's best years in corn production, while soybean yield could slip slightly.
-- Minnesota
"Late-July Rain Puts Minnesota on Track for 200.6 BPA Corn Yields," https://www.dtnpf.com/…
Drier-than-normal conditions across Minnesota were relieved in the last two days of July when a storm provided a steady show with anywhere from 3 to 7 inches of rain across the state, leading nearly everyone growing corn and soybeans to declare it a "million-dollar rain."
Wednesday, Aug. 12:-- North Dakota
"July Drought Gripped North Dakota, Yet 2026 Yield Estimates Nearly Mirror 2025," https://www.dtnpf.com/…
Despite varying degrees of drought across North Dakota, DTN predicts the state's corn and soybean crops to produce at levels nearly identical to 2025. DTN's Digital Yield Tour forecasts the corn yield at 151.4 bpa and soybeans at 34.0 bpa.
-- South Dakota
"South Dakota Farmers Expect Average Crop, DTN Predicts Slightly Above Average," https://www.dtnpf.com/…
The 2026 DTN Digital Yield Tour predicts mixed outcomes for South Dakota. While statewide corn yield estimates fell nearly 10 bushels per acre (bpa) from 2025, soybean yield estimates were up more than a bushel. Tour estimates for both crops in 2026 exceed USDA's Risk Management Agency five-year averages. DTN's Digital Yield Tour forecasts the corn yield at 159.9 bpa and soybeans at 45.1 bpa.
Thursday, Aug. 13:-- Indiana
-- Ohio
Friday, Aug. 14:-- Nebraska
-- Kansas
-- Missouri
Saturday, Aug. 15:-- 2026 DTN Digital Yield Tour - Extras (Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas)
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AUGUST YIELD ESTIMATES AT A GLANCECORN (bushels per acre)
| STATE | DTN DYT | DTN DYT | RMA |
| 2026 | 2025 | 5-Yr Ave. | |
| National | 178.5 | 186.8 | NA |
| Illinois | 210.3 | 220.1 | 220.1 |
| Indiana | |||
| Iowa | 214.0 | 223.7 | 213.8 |
| Kansas | |||
| Minnesota | 200.6 | 199.1 | 190.7 |
| Missouri | |||
| Nebraska | |||
| North Dakota | 151.4 | 151.9 | 147.7 |
| Ohio | |||
| South Dakota | 159.9 | 169.2 | 158.8 |
| Wisconsin | 187.2 | 194.3 | 187.6 |
SOYBEANS (bushels per acre)
| STATE | DTN DYT | DTN DYT | RMA |
| 2026 | 2025 | 5-Yr Ave. | |
| National | 53.0 | 51.5 | NA |
| Illinois | 64.7 | 64.5 | 65.5 |
| Indiana | |||
| Iowa | 61.8 | 62.3 | 62.3 |
| Kansas | |||
| Minnesota | 52.6 | 51.3 | 49.8 |
| Missouri | |||
| Nebraska | |||
| North Dakota | 34.0 | 34.7 | 35.0 |
| Ohio | |||
| South Dakota | 45.1 | 43.8 | 44.9 |
| Wisconsin | 52.2 | 51.6 | 53.0 |
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