Record-Setting 2025 Corn Crop Enters Market with Strong Quality
New USGBC report shows lowest BCFM in 15 years, high test weights, and strong performance across grade factors
The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council’s 2025/2026 Corn Harvest Quality Report (link) paints a picture of a U.S. corn crop that is not only historic in size but also notably strong in quality, setting a solid foundation for domestic users and global buyers as the marketing year begins.
According to the report, favorable growing conditions — timely planting, strong early growth, warm and wet pollination weather, and a mostly dry harvest — helped push yields to an estimated 11.67 metric tons per hectare (186 bu/acre), the highest on record. With 36.44 million hectares harvested, the U.S. is poised to produce 425.53 million metric tons, surpassing the previous record from 2023 by more than 35 million metric tons.
High Grade Performance Across the Board
Quality indicators show the crop entering the pipeline in excellent condition:
•87.1% of samples met all criteria for U.S. No. 1 grade, and 97.8% qualified for U.S. No. 2.
• Test weight averaged 58.6 lb/bu, matching the five-year average and remaining well above the U.S. No. 1 minimum (56 lb/bu).
• The Pacific Northwest posted the lowest test weight (57.7 lb/bu), consistent with historical patterns, while Southern Rail had the highest at 59.3 lb/bu.
Moisture levels averaged 16.0%, equal to the five-year average but higher than 2024. Roughly 23.6% of samples exceeded 17% moisture, underscoring the need for careful handling to prevent storage issues. Southern Rail again showed the driest corn at 15.6%.
Record-Low BCFM
One of the standout metrics of the 2025 crop is the exceptionally low level of broken corn and foreign material (BCFM):
•BCFM averaged just 0.3%, the lowest level in the 15-year history of the Harvest Report.
•100% of samples met the No. 2 grade maximum (3.0%), and 99.5% met the stricter No. 1 standard (≤2.0%).
Broken corn and foreign material levels were low across all export regions, supporting efficient handling, reduced spoilage risk, and improved performance for feed and processing uses.
Physical Traits and Composition
The crop maintained solid physical integrity:
•Stress cracks averaged 9.5%, like recent years and the five-year average.
• 100-kernel weight slipped to 34.04 grams, below 2024 and the five-year benchmark, reflecting the slightly smaller kernel size associated with cooler, drier grain-fill conditions.
•Whole kernels averaged 90.6%, slightly below recent years but still strong for early-season corn.
Chemical composition remained steady, with protein at 8.4%, starch at 72.3%, and oil at 3.8%, all within normal historical ranges.
Mycotoxins Well Below FDA Limits
Mycotoxin levels were generally low and within federal thresholds:
•100% of samples were at or below the FDA’s 20 ppb action level for aflatoxin;
•98.8% were at or below the 5.0 ppm advisory limit for DON;
• 87.2% of samples fell below the strictest fumonisin guidance level (5.0 ppm).
These strong results reflect a largely favorable growing season and minimal post-harvest stress.
A Crop Positioned to Lead Global Exports
The Council notes that given the size and quality of the crop, the United States is expected to account for 38.4% of global corn exports this marketing year. The Harvest Quality Report serves as a baseline measure; a separate Export Cargo Report will follow in early 2026 to show how corn quality holds up through the handling and export system.
Overall, the 2025/2026 Harvest Report depicts a U.S. corn crop that combines historic volume with robust quality, positioning producers, merchandisers, and international buyers for a strong marketing year ahead.
Comments: Without all the USDA lab reports behind due to the gov’t shutdown, this fills in some gaps and more. Their testing indicates that USDA probably will not decrease yields much more.
