Day 8 & 9: July 11-12, 2021
10th Annual US Corn Belt Crop Tour Summary of the State of Minnesota
The 2021 10th Annual U.S. Corn Belt Crop tour in the state of Minnesota started on day 8, July 11th, and ended on July 12th, day 9. On July 11th we travelled from Grand Forks, ND southeast on Highways 32 and 10 to Minneapolis, MN. On July 12th, we travelled southwest to Lafayette, to New Ulm, and to Worthington before heading back into South Dakota for a producer meeting in Salem, SD.
The north was very dry with visible pineapple corn and soybeans wilting in the dry weather. The south was the opposite as farmers received plenty of moisture 2-3 weeks before our arrival and were the “garden spot” with “picture perfect” flawless crops everywhere east to west below Minneapolis, MN. July 11th was sunny with a high of 30 C, while July 12th was partly cloudy/sunny with a high of 84 F.
When comparing crops to 2020 it is night and day. There was too much moisture last year in the south and lots of yellow soybeans. The drought started a year ago and it got worse in 2021.
90-Day Precipitation Departure from Normal


Minnesota is ranked the #3 corn and soybean producer in the U.S. 2017 was Minnesota’s record corn yield at 194 bpa, and 2016 for a record soybean yield at 52, which compares to last year at 192 and 40 respectively. Farmers planted 6.5% more corn, +4.0% more soybeans, and -14.7% less spring wheat acres. Corn crop conditions in Minnesota are at 42% good-excellent and 18% very poor to poor. Soybean crop conditions stand at 43% good-excellent and 17% very poor to poor as of July 19th, 2021. Topsoil moisture is rated 29% adequate, 0% surplus, and 78% short to very short. Subsoil moisture is no better at 21% adequate, 0% surplus, and 79% very short to short.
The south will offset the north but timely rains in August & a good finish is needed to maintain above average yields. No records in 2021, with the north so dry & the south turning dryer with top and subsoil moisture below average, but the rich black soils and genetics are really showing their colors in the south this year. We rank the state 8.5 out of 10.

Thank You to our proud prize sponsors Azotic North America and Empire Weather.
For daily updates check out our Twitter account @FarmsMarketing and follow the tour using #cornbelt21. Not a member? Sign up today for an 8-week no risk-free trial commodity marketing subscription https://riskmanagement.farms.com/. Try our Members Only Commodity Marketing app and get access to timely recommendations and “pull the Trigger” text alerts 24/7 in the palm of your hands. Never miss another marketing opportunity again!