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July 30, 2026 |
Move on 2026 and 2027 grain prices before Aug. 12 USDA report
Ag Marketing IQ: USDA’s Aug. 12 report – the first 2026 farmer survey-based yield report – may reshape corn and soybean markets and shift trendlines. The difference: millions of bushels, more or less.
At a Glance
- August yield forecasts historically shift significantly by harvest
- Contrasting weather patterns increase 2026 yield uncertainty
- Current price volatility creates marketing opportunities now
The corn market is following weather forecasts intensely as a substantial amount of corn pollination will occur by Aug. 1. In its May, June and July World Agriculture Supply and Demand reports, USDA incorporated a national trend yield projection for 2026 production. Starting this week and continuing into early August, however, the USDA will conduct its first survey-based estimate of 2026 corn yields that will be released in crop production reports on Aug. 12. Combined with the latest harvested acreage estimate, USDA will arrive at a national production forecast.
As traders, our goal is to examine the accuracy of the August USDA corn yield in relation to the final estimate.
