Will Crop Yields Continue to Grow?

Illinois farmers harvested some pretty impressive crops in recent years.

Last year, the state average corn yield for the first time reached a record 200 bushels per acre.

This year, despite early-season flooding and planting delays followed by late-season dryness, farmers are on pace to harvest average yields of 170 bushels per acre of corn and 54 bushels per acre of beans in the state, according to USDA.

After a couple years of bin-buster harvests, many in the ag industry may wonder if farmers can continue to push yields even higher, or if production will level off. John Chambers, U.S. technology and agronomy lead at Monsanto, addressed that question last month at the National Agricultural Bankers Conference in Kansas City, Mo.

While weather always remains a key driver and wild card in crop production, Chambers believes farmers and ag companies such as Monsanto, the world’s largest seed and trait company, will continue to push yields to higher levels in the future. Monsanto each year pumps about $1.5 billion to $1.7 billion into research and development of new crop hybrids, products and services.