Wet conditions from September did not and likely will not have a significant impact on local crop yields either for the better or worse in the opinion of Lyon County Ag Agent Brian Rees.
Rees spoke with KVOE News Tuesday regarding the state of crop yields, noting that the area is “in decent shape,” but there are later soybean crops that could use additional heat units. As for corn crops, Rees says there is “some good corn out there” but also some that either received too much or not enough moisture at the right time.
That said, Rees anticipates that crop yields will be right on par, if not slightly above average yields, at between 100 to 110 bushels. Now, the only major issue with that will be the price they garner due to the impacts of various factors on ag markets, including federally imposed tariffs and high global supply, which has limited price increases and domestic product demand.
According to Rees, grain futures have already seen a downturn in recent months as a result of tariffs and “Other factors” with corn trading between $4.19-$4.21 per bushel, soybeans trading around $10.07-$10.11 per bushel and wheat trading at approximately $5.06-$5.19 per bushel. According to the US Department of Agriculture, as of September 1, corn ending stocks alone were 13 percent lower than the same time in 2024. Old-crop U.S. soybean stocks, meanwhile, were down 8 percent, with U.S. farm-level wheat prices being 7 percent lower in August 2025 than in August 2024.
Meanwhile, seed expenses have jumped by 18 percent the last five years, while fertilizer has gone up by 37 percent, fuel and oil by 32 percent, interest by 73 percent and labor by 47 percent, as KVOE News reported earlier this week.
With the lower prices, rising expenses and ongoing impacts of federal tariffs, Reese says there are some resources available to ag producers; however, they are limited. For additional information on said resources, producers should contact their respective extension office or local farm service agency office.
Rees’ comments followed statements from US Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas, where he stated ag profitability is “as difficult as I’ve ever seen,” as originally reported by KVOE’s ag partner Brownfield.
