WASHINGTON — The outlook for U.S. corn production is on track to be at a record level, the most recent World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report indicates.
The market forecasting WASDE report, considered a “gold standard” for agribusiness, is prepared monthly by the World Agricultural Outlook Board and is released by USDA.
“American farmers feed and fuel the world, and this report equips them with the trusted, timely data they need to make informed business decisions,” Brooke L. Rollins, U.S. agriculture secretary, said.
“Corn production for 2025/26 is forecast at a record 16.7 billion bushels, up 1 billion from last month with a 1.9 million-acre increase in harvested area and higher yield,” the report says. “If realized, this total would be 1.4 billion bushels more than the prior record set in 2023/24. The season’s first survey-based corn yield forecast, at a record 188.8 billion bushels per acre, is 7.8 bushels higher than last month’s projection.”
Feed and residual use of corn is estimated in the report at 6.1 billion bushels stemming from a larger crop and lower expected prices, which is an increase of 250 million bushels. Total corn usage for the year is estimated at 16 billion bushels, an increase of 545 million bushels.
Poultry
“The forecast for 2025 red meat and poultry production is reduced from last month,” the WASDE report notes. “Broiler production is raised reflecting recent production and hatchery data. Turkey production is reduced on recent hatchery data indicating lower production in the fourth quarter of the year. Egg production is lowered on reported data through June and slower growth expected in the second half of the year based on recent hatchery data.”
Broiler and turkey exports estimates are increased based on data through June, the report added.
Regarding prices, turkey prices are up, and broiler and egg prices are down, the WASDE says.
“Broiler price forecasts for 2025 are reduced for the second half of the year based on recent price declines through early August, with reduced prices carrying into next year,” the report said. “Turkey prices are raised for the second half of 2025 and 2026 based on recent price strength and support from tight supplies of red meat. The egg price forecast for 2025 is reduced on lower fourth quarter prices reflecting recent prices and improved shell egg inventories. The egg price forecast in 2026 is unchanged.”
For U.S. soybeans the average price for the year is estimated at $10.10 a bushel, and the soybean meal price is forecast in the report at $280 per short ton, which is a decrease of $10.
Corn growers
The National Corn Growers Association is urging Congress and the USDA to increase markets to assist corn growers who are struggling with the record-low prices noted in the WASDE report.
“Corn growers are already marketing their corn for extremely low corn prices, and this massive projected corn supply without market-based solutions to increasing corn demand is already causing corn prices to fall further,” Kenneth Hartman Jr., NCGA president and an Illinois farmer, said. “Because we need markets fast for this supply, we are redoubling and intensifying our call for Congress to pass pending E15 legislation that will allow for year-round consumer access to higher blends of ethanol and for the Trump administration to quickly broker deals that will open new foreign markets for corn.”
The association adds that an increase to 15 percent ethanol year-round would an immediate boost for corn demand.
“This solution comes at no cost to consumers, requires no additional infrastructure developments and would generate demand for an additional 457 million bushels of corn, according to NCGA estimates,” the group said, adding a push to, “Remove foreign and domestic barriers to corn production, trade, and innovation. U.S. farmers have been promoting these actions for years — they and rural economies need action now.”
“My family survived the 1980s farm crisis,” Hartman added. “I don’t want my daughter to be talking about the 2020s farm crisis in 40 years. The situation is dire, and new market demand is the only way we are going to dig out of this.”
