The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently released the 2015 estimated average county yields for corn, soybeans, and other crops. The NASS yields reveal just how remarkable the 2015 crop year was across the State of Minnesota. 2015 featured record yields for both corn and soybeans in Minnesota, as well as the highest ever crop yields in many counties in the State. The 2015 County yields are available on the NASS website.

NASS is estimating the 2015 corn yield in Minnesota at the record level of 188 bushels per acre, which was six percent above the previous State record corn yield of 177 bushels per acre in 2010. Other recent statewide corn yields were 156 bushels per acre in 2014, 159 bushels per acre in 2013, 165 bushels per acre in 2012, and 155 bushels per acre in 2011. The 2015 average soybean yield in Minnesota is also estimated to be at a record level of 50 bushels per acre, which significantly exceeded the previous State record soybean yield of 45 bushels per acre in 2010. The statewide soybean yields in other recent years were 41.5 bushels per acre in 2014, 42 bushels per acre in 2013, 43.5 bushels per acre in 2012, and 39 bushels per acre in 2011.

Based on the NASS data, the eleven counties in Minnesota’s South Central Crop Reporting District produced over 321 million bushels of corn in 2015. Minnesota had a total 2015 corn production of nearly 1.43 billion bushels, compared to just below 1.18 billion bushels in 2014. Renville County produced the most corn in 2015 at 51.6 million bushels, followed in top five for corn production by Redwood County at 45.2 million bushels, Martin County at 45.1 million bushels, Faribault County at 43.7 million bushels, and Nobles County at 39.2 million bushels.

Thirteen counties in Minnesota had 2015 average corn yields that exceeded 200 bushels per acre, according to the NASS data. Faribault County had the highest average corn yield at 207.4 bushels per acre, followed in the top five counties by Nicollet County at 206.8 bushels per acre, Watonwan County at 206.1 bushel per acre, Dodge County at 204.0 bushels per acre, and Martin County at 203.4 bushels per acre. Other counties that exceeded 200 bushels per acre were Blue Earth, Carver, Freeborn, Goodhue, Jackson, Le Sueur, Rice, and Steele. Most other counties in the southern one-third of Minnesota, as well as a few counties in Central Minnesota had 2015 corn yields between 185 and 199 bushels per acre. Most counties in the central one-third of the State had corn yields above 170 bushels per acre.

Fifty-five counties in Minnesota had record high soybean yields in 2015. Minnesota produced 377.5 million bushels of soybeans in 2015, compared 301.7 million bushels in 2014. The top five soybean producing counties in 2015 all exceeded a total production above 10 million bushels, led by Renville County with 11.9 million bushels. Other counties in the top five for soybean production were Redwood at 11.4 million bushels, Faribault at 10.2 million bushels, and both Blue Earth and Polk at 10.1 million bushels.

The top five 2015 soybean yield counties in Minnesota all had average yields that exceeded 60 bushels per acre, according to the NASS data. Martin County had the highest average soybean yield at 61.7 bushels per acre, followed by Faribault County at 61.3 bushels per acre, Dodge County at 60.6 bushel per acre, and both Nicollet and Waseca Counties at 60.1 bushels per acre. Other counties with 2015 yields of 58.0 to 59.9 bushels per acre included Blue Earth, Carver, Freeborn, Goodhue, Mower, Rock, Steele, and Watonwan. Most other counties in the southern one-third of Minnesota had 2015 soybean yields above 55 bushels per acre, while most county yields in the central one-third of the State were between 45 and 55 bushels per acre.
Total 2015 spring wheat production in Minnesota was 85.8 million bushels, which was 32 percent above the total production of 64.9 million bushels of wheat in 2014. Nearly 80 percent of the State’s spring wheat production came from the Northwest Minnesota Crop Reporting District. However, Pipestone County in Southwest Minnesota had the highest 2015 average wheat yield at 72.2 bushels per acre, followed by Lyon County at 69.4 bushels per acre, and Norman County at 68.4 bushels per acre.

Note — For additional information contact Kent Thiesse, Farm Management Analyst and Vice President, MinnStar Bank, Lake Crystal, Minnesota. Phone: (507) 381-7960); Email: kent.thiesse@minnstarbank.com; Web Site: www.minnstarbank.com