USDA acknowledges error in September US corn crop forecast

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) identified a processing error that affected its September 2026 estimates of corn yields and production. The revisions affected data for Nebraska and Kansas, as well as the national yield estimate.

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Nebraska’s corn yield estimate was revised from 177 to 182 bushels per acre, while Kansas’s estimate was lowered from 122 to 119 bushels per acre.

The national September yield estimate was raised from 178.5 to 178.8 bushels per acre. The error also affected plant population and ear count data across 10 states. USDA said its October forecasts, published on October 9, had been validated and remained unchanged.

NASS explained that the error resulted from incorrect weighting of irrigated and non-irrigated acreage. The correction drew criticism from US farmers, for whom accurate forecasts are important when making market decisions.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) said recent USDA reports had cost US corn growers billions of dollars in market value. The organization also highlighted low profit margins and high fuel and input costs.

Tags: corn, USDA Report, USA, crop forecast