FOCUS ON AG

Written by Kent Thiesse

Farm Management Analyst and Senior Vice President, MinnStar Bank
March 7, 2022

2021 CROP YIELDS WERE MIXED ACROSS THE MIDWEST

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently released the estimated 2021 average
county yields for corn, soybeans, and other crops. The 2021 statewide average corn and soybean yields set new
records in Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, while average yields in North and South Dakota were at the lowest
levels in several years due to the extreme drought conditions last year. The 2021 NASS average corn and
soybean yields for Minnesota also trailed recent years; however, there was a wide yield variation across the
State. Many portions of Southern Minnesota had very favorable yields, similar to Iowa, while the Western and
Northern portions of the State had significant yield reductions due to the drought in 2021. The 2021 county
yield data for all crops in Minnesota, Iowa, and all other States is available on the NASS web site at:
http://www.nass.usda.gov/.

Following is a brief summary of the NASS 2021 State and County corn and soybean yields in the Upper
Midwestern States:
Minnesota
NASS is estimating the 2021 average corn yield in Minnesota at 178 bushels per acre, which is well below the
statewide corn yield of 192 bushels per acre in 2020. The 2021 average corn yield is slightly above the 2019
statewide corn yield of 173 bushels but is well below the state record corn yield of 194 bushels per acre in 2017.
The 2021 average soybean yield in Minnesota is estimated at 47 bushels per acre, which is slightly below the
2020 average yield of 49 bushels per acre and well below the state record yield was 52 bushels per acre in 2016.

Sixteen counties, primarily in the South Central and Southeast Minnesota, had an estimated 2021 average corn
yield that exceeded 200 bushels per acre (bu./A). Waseca County had the highest average corn yield at 213.7
bu./A, followed by Watonwan County at 210.1 bu./A, Nicollet County at 209.5 bu./A, Freeborn County at 208.1
bu./A, and Rock County at 207.9 bu./A. Other counties that exceeded the 200 bu./A corn yield threshold in
2021 were Blue Earth, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Le Sueur, Nobles, Scott, Sibley, Steele, Wabasha, and
Winona.

Seventeen counties in Minnesota had 2021 average soybean yields that exceeded 60 bushels per acre (bu./A),
compared to only five counties in 2020. Waseca County also had the highest 2021 average soybean yield at 67.4
bu./A, followed by Nobles County at 63.3 bu./A, Nicollet County at 63 bu./A, Watonwan County at 62.7 bu./A,
and Wabasha and Scott Counties tied at 62.5 bu./A. Other Minnesota counties that topped 60 bu./A in 2021
were Blue Earth, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Martin, Rock, Sibley, Steele, and Winona.

Iowa
Based on the NASS yield data, the estimated 2021 Iowa statewide average corn yield of 205 bushels per acre
(bu./A) was a new state record, exceeding the previous record yield of 203 bu./A in 2016. The 2021 Iowa corn
yield far exceeded the average yield of only 178 bu./A in 2020, which had yields reduced due the damage
caused by the derecho storm that severely impacted the corn crop in a large portion of the State. Iowa also had a
record average soybean yield of 62 bu./A in 2021, surpassing the previous record yield of 60 bu./A in 2016. The
2021 statewide average soybean yield was well above the average yields of 53 bu./A in 2020 and 55 bu./A in
2019.

Sac County in West Central Iowa had the highest 2021 average corn yield at 231.5 bu./A, followed by Ida
County at 229.1 bu./A, Jasper County at 223.1 bu./A, Sioux and Greene County at 221.7 bu./A. Dubuque and
Sioux counties tied for the highest 2021 average soybean yield at 69.6 bu./A, followed by Scott County at 67.3
bu./A, Audubon County at 66.4 bu./A, and Jasper County at 66.3 bu./A. Seventeen counties in Iowa had 2021
average corn yields that exceeded 215 bushels per acre and fifty-two counties had average soybean yields that
surpassed 60 bushels per acre.
South Dakota
NASS estimated South Dakota’s 2021 average corn yield at only 135 bushels per acre (bu./A), which is down
significantly from the 2020 statewide yield level of 162 bu./A, due to the severe drought in many parts of the
state in 2021. Coddington County in the Northeast portion of South Dakota had the highest 2021 average corn
yield at 196.7 bu./A, followed by Hamlin County at 179.4 bu./A, Grant County at 176.5 bu./A, Clark County at
172.3 bu./A, Brookings County at 164 bu./A., and Lincoln County at 161.3 bu./A. South Dakota had an
estimated 2021 statewide average soybean yield of 40 bu./A, which was down from 45.5 bu./A in 2020 and was
well below the statewide record soybean yield of 49.5 bu./A. Union County had the highest average 2021
soybean yield at 57.1 bu./A, followed by Coddington County at 54.5 bu./A, Hamlin County at 53.4 bu./A, and
Lincoln County at 51.8 bu./A, with Clark, Clay and Grant counties all exceeding 48 bu./A.

North Dakota
Based on the NASS data, the severe drought in 2021 reduced the North Dakota average corn yield to only 105
bushels per acre (bu./A). The 2021 statewide corn yield was far below the average yields of 139 bu./A in 2020,
131 bu./A in 2019, 153 bu./A in 2018, and the state record yield of 158 bu./A in 2016. Richland County had the
highest 2021 average corn yield at 149.1 bu./A, followed by Cass County at 143.3 bu./A, Sargent County at
141.5 bu./A, Ransom County at 138.6 bu./A, Steele County at 124.1 bu./A, Dickey County at 123.6 bu./A, and
Grand Forks County at 123.3 bu./A. North Dakota had an estimated 2021 statewide average soybean yield of
only 25.5 bu./A, which was well below recent average yields of 33.5 bu./A in 2020, 31.5 bu./A in 2019, and the
2016 record statewide soybean yield of 41.5 bu./A. Richland County also had the highest 2021 soybean yield at
37.2 bu./A, followed by Ransom County at 34.9 bu./A, Sargent County at 34.2 bu./A, Cass County at 33.5
bu./A, Barnes and Ramsey counties at 31.6 bu./A, and La Moure County at 31.4 bu./A.

Nebraska
Nebraska has had fairly consistent average corn yields in recent years, with NASS estimating a 2021 average
corn yield of 194 bushels per acre (bu./A). The 2021 average yield compares to statewide yield levels of 181
bu./A in 2020, 182 bu./A in 2019, and 192 bu./A in 2018. The highest 2021 average corn yield in Nebraska was
229.9 bu./A in Valley County, followed by Brown County at 228.8 bu./A, Adams County at 228.7 bu./A,
Colfax County at 228.3 bu./A, and Phelps County at 227 bu./A. Other Nebraska counties that exceeded 210
bushels per acre in 2021 included Burt, Cuming, Dodge, Gosper, Greeley, Harlan, Platte, Sarpy, Seward, and
Sherman. The estimated 2021 average soybean yield of 63 bu./A in Nebraska was new record statewide yield,
surpassing the previous record yield of 61 bu./A in 2016. The 2021 yield was also well above other recent
statewide yields of 57 bu./A in 2020 and 58.5 bu./A in 2019. Nine counties exceed 70 bu./A, with Gosper
County topping the list at 75.5 bu./A, followed by Brown County at 74.6 bu./A, Dawson County at 73.8 bu./A,
Phelps County at 72.9 bu./A, and Harlan County at 71.7 bu./A, as well as Adams, Clay, Franklin, and Howard
counties all exceeding 70 bu./A.

Wisconsin
NASS estimated the Wisconsin average corn yield in 2021 at 180 bushels per acre (bu./A), which is up from the
2020 statewide yield level of 174 bu./A, and is above the 2018 yield of 178 bu./A. The highest 2021 average
corn yield in Wisconsin was in Lafayette County at 210.9 bu./A, followed by Grant County at 208.3 bu./A,
Dodge County at 199.5 bu./A, Green County at 196.7 bu./A, and Fond du Lac County at 194.5 bu./A., with
Columbia, Dane, Dunn, and Rock counties also exceeding 190 bu./A. Wisconsin had an estimated 2021
statewide average soybean yield of 55 bu./A. , which tied the statewide record yield set in 2016 and was an
increase from 51 bu./A. in 2020. Lafayette County also topped the Wisconsin soybean yields with a 2021 yield
of 63.5 bu./A, which was followed by Dane, Dodge, and Grant County, all at 62.9 bu./A, and Iowa County at
61.3 bu./A, with Columbia and Green counties also exceeding 60 bu./A.

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Note --- For additional information contact Kent Thiesse, Farm Management Analyst and Sr. Vice President,
MinnStar Bank, Lake Crystal, MN. (Phone --- (507) 381-7960)
E-mail --- kent.thiesse@minnstarbank.com) Web Site --- http://www.minnstarbank.com/