Introducing the 2026 Harvest Progress Report from Wyffels Hybrids.
This fall, we're tracking corn harvest progress and yield averages on our weekly interactive map.
Don't harvest in a silo. Use updates from fellow farmers across the Central Corn Belt to help you harvest with confidence.
Want to contribute to the map? Share your harvesting update here.
Follow the Farm Journal "Harvest Your Independence Tour" following 6 Midwestern growers and stopping at a different farm each week.
Across the Central Corn Belt, harvest is just beginning to accelerate, but progress remains highly variable. In Iowa, widespread September rainfall has slowed field activity after an early start to silage and grain harvest. Iowa State agronomists report that many growers were able to begin corn harvest before rains moved in, and early yields have generally met or exceeded expectations. However, saturated soils, flooding in parts of northeast Iowa, and concerns about stalk quality, crown rot, ear rots, and standability are now driving harvest decisions. Statewide, only about 2% of Iowa corn had been harvested by mid-September, with many fields still drying down.
Illinois and western Indiana are somewhat farther ahead. University of Illinois Extension reports corn and soybean harvest underway in many central Illinois counties, aided by rapid drydown and warm conditions. Some corn is already testing below 25% moisture, and combines are rolling where fields are fit. However, uneven stands, kernel abortion from summer stress, crown rot, and stalk health issues continue to show up. Across Indiana, repeated late-summer rainfall has increased concern about ear rots, mycotoxins, tar spot, southern rust, and grain quality, even in fields with strong yield potential.
Farther north in southern Minnesota, southern Wisconsin, eastern South Dakota, and eastern Nebraska, crop maturity has advanced rapidly over the past two weeks. USDA reports show corn maturity and dent-stage progress near or slightly behind normal in parts of the northern Corn Belt, but enough heat accumulated in early September to move crops toward harvest readiness. Many growers are finishing silage harvest and opening fields, while waiting for moisture levels to reach economical grain harvest thresholds.
Looking ahead, growers should prioritize fields with compromised stalks, crown rot, lodging potential, or visible ear mold ahead of healthier fields. Recent wet conditions across Iowa and parts of the eastern Corn Belt increase the risk of stalk deterioration and mycotoxin development if harvest is delayed. Scout aggressively, perform push or pinch tests, and consider harvesting weaker fields first. Where rains persist, patience will be important to avoid compaction, but once fields become trafficable, expect harvest pace to pick up quickly across the region. Drying costs may be justified this year to preserve grain quality and prevent losses from lodging, ear drop, and further disease development.
Resources
Wyffels Hybrids Grain Drying Calculator
Iowa State University Regional Crop Update: September 2026
University of Illinois - Illinois Crop Update
Iowa Crop Progress and Conditions Report
Purdue Field Crop Disease Monitoring Resources for Indiana in 2026
Regional Updates:
Central/Eastern Illinois: Harvest progress has been slow across Central Illinois due to cloudy conditions and persistent mist that have limited field activity. Corn moisture levels have been stubborn, with April-planted corn actually gaining a point or two in moisture this week. Most May-planted corn remains around 25% moisture across hybrids. Drydown has been much slower than expected, but with a favorable weather pattern moving in, we're hopeful for improved conditions that can help remove a few more moisture points and allow growers to get back into fields, especially in areas that received significant rainfall. Some plots were harvested this week from Bloomington southward, and results from several new products have been exciting. W7544, W7229 and W9097 have been the standout rookies. W7945 continues to demonstrate why it remains a leader in the lineup, delivering impressive yield performance and reinforcing its strong reputation across the region. - Area Agronomy Manager, Robby Meeker
Southern WI/Northern IL: Last weeks rains kept everyone out of the field. Hopefully the weather cooperates and harvest can begin when soil conditions allow. - Product Manager, Brent Tharp
Southeast Iowa: Progress remains slow to none. Persistent damp conditions have kept combines out of the field. We're seeing positive yield results in pockets that have been able to go, however stalk quality has been a concern.
Northeast Iowa: With less rain and better drying weather, some action started mid to late week. Yield results on early numbers such as W2674 and W3654 have been very positive! Harvest will continue as long as rains hold off. - Area Agronomy Manager, Eric Wilson
Southern Illinois: Progress continues to chug right along south of the Springfield area with yields remaining high. Some growers are reporting best ever corn yields. Many growers are approaching the finish line on corn harvest in this area.
West Central Illinois: Progress continues at a much slower pace around the Peoria/Galesburg area. Many growers took advantage of the warnings from their seed dealers and went out and got fields with stalk rots and compromised stalks in the last couple of weeks. Many growers are still sitting on the sidelines waiting for corn to dry down. May corn is still in the 24-27% moisture range in many fields and we experienced several days of drizzle and clouds. Early yields have been pretty good with many farmers reporting 10-20 bushels off last years’ record corn crop. Wyffels has been very strong in early plots. W7945, W7876, W7544, W6644, & W8134 have all looked very good in the early batch of plots. - Area Agronomy Manager, Ryan Gentle
Northwest/Central Iowa: The area has received anywhere from 1-3 inches of rain over the last week. With cool and wet conditions, no new field work was reported across the area. Drydown is progressing slowly across the region with more rain expected. Farmers are prepared to harvest when conditions improve. Corn moistures remain in the 17-30% moisture ranges depending on hybrid maturities.
Eastern Nebraska/Southwest Iowa: With some amount of moisture every day for the past week, not much progress has been made on harvest. Some operations were able to get out mid week, but that was the exception, not the rule. Fields that were down to 16% moisture before the rain gained a few points of moisture, and are testing around 18-20%.
Southern Minnesota/Eastern South Dakota: The past week has been wet throughout the area which has resulted in almost no new harvest activity. The drought-affected areas of southwestern MN and Eastern SD continue to see stalk quality degrade, with significant standability concerns in some cases. Corn was ranging from 18 - 30% prior to the rain this week and sticking around that level until we start to dry out again. Most hybrids have now black layered, aside from some of the full season hybrids or late planted corn. Hopefully, we'll start to dry out next week so we can get a good start on the crop!
Recent Wyffels Trial Highlights (View Latest Results)
Keokuk Co., IA: W7229 (295.6 bu/A), W9097, W7424, and W7819 finish in the top 5 of a 34-entry trial
Clarinda IA: W7876 (250), W7424 (250 bu/A), W6644 (249), W7229 (248), W7819 (243) top 5 hybrids in a 16-entry trial
Edgerton, MN: W2557, W4487, W6479, W5684, W4514 top 5 hybrids in a 24-entry drought stressed plot
New Athens, IL: W9097 (259 bu/A), W7819 (256), W8086 (254) finished in the top 5 of a 20-entry trial
Oakville, IA: W7499 (258 bu/A) and W7424 (251) finished in top 5 of a 14 entry multi-brand trial
St Charles, MO: W6644 (300 bu/A), W7424 (295), W7945 (295), W8086 (294) finished in the top 10 of a 20 entry multi-brand trial
Percival, IA: W6644 top $/A hybrid in 20 entry trial
Get to Know the Wyffels Lineup!
The Wyffels Agronomy Team shares insights on new and top-performing products for 2026. These quick videos walk you through product characteristics, trait details, and best practices for top-end yield.
Combines are starting to move, especially in southern/western Illinois, but overall progress remains minimal for now. For most of the region, corn maturity is ahead of schedule. Conditions remain somewhat uneven due to localized weather extremes, but we are expecting an earlier harvest for many corn growers. Rain has slowed down progress for many this week, but once things dry out, we expect to see a lot of combines rolling!
Regional Updates (As of 9/19)
Western IL: Harvest has begun in western Illinois! Many growers south of the Springfield area have gotten a good start on corn harvest. We're hearing many record yield reports from Springfield to St. Louis, with it being better the farther south you go. Growers from Springfield to Peoria are just getting started. Most of the fields in this area have been pretty good if they didn’t die prematurely. We have seen some fields experience early dieback due to crown rot. Most of these fields have yielded around 200 bu/ac, while the healthier, greener fields have generally ranged from 230 to 260 bu/ac. Growers from Galesburg north haven’t had a chance to do much corn harvest yet. Most of the area received anywhere from 1.5-3 inches of rain on 9/15, so it will be a few days before combines can begin to roll again. Once it dries out, I believe harvest will kick into full swing. - Area Agronomy Manager, Ryan Gentle
Southern WI/Northern IL: Very few corn fields have been harvested for grain in SOWI/NIL, while silage harvest is well underway. Tonnage reports are variable and generally trending below last year. This week’s rain will keep farmers out of the field and provides favorable conditions for continued development of stalk and ear rot pathogens. Now is the time to get into fields and evaluate stalk and ear quality to help determine harvest timing and prioritize fields at risk for further deterioration. - Product Manager, Brent Tharp
Eastern IA: Very little corn harvest has taken place on the east side of the state. Many were hoping to start this last week, but wet weather has kept everyone sidelined. Of the few that have been able to go early, yield reports have been solid but it's still to early to establish any trends. Silage estimates have come in over the spread of 200-300 BPA. A few early beans have come out and reports have been very good. Many are hoping to start next week once field conditions dry out. Stalk integrity remains a concern, especially after a week of wet weather. - Area Agronomy Manager, Eric Wilson
Eastern IL / Western IN: Harvest in east central IL kicked off here in the middle of September. Variability is the name of the game in terms of moisture and yields. Moisture ranges in field are commonly 5% and yield well over 100 bushel. I would guess that 20% of east central IL growers tried out the combine this week. It feels like it's too early to tell much, but many growers think yields will be off 10% year-over-year. In Indiana, corn harvest is limited. I haven't heard many reports other than early maturity corn, but soybeans are delivering solid early yields. - Area Agronomy Manager, Robby Meeker
Southern MN / Eastern SD: Across southern MN and Eastern SD you can find it all. A poor, drought-stricken crop in SW MN and parts of eastern SD, and corn that’s still green and packing on mega yields in south central MN. In SW MN and eastern SD harvest has just begun. This area has been battling significant drought conditions the last half of summer, which caused the crop to shut down prematurely and to start deteriorating rapidly. The hot, windy conditions last week and the occasional early fall storm hasn’t helped the cause. Stalks were cannibalized trying to fill the ear in these areas, and stalk quality is very poor. Early yield reports in drought-stricken fields are very poor, with about half of a normal crop being harvested. Some farms are taking out some tough-looking corn before starting soybeans. Overall harvest progress is maybe 2% complete and likely to come to a halt for a week as rain moves through. Once you get outside the droughty areas there will be some record corn yields in southern MN and eastern SD! The crop looks excellent in south central and most of SE MN, as well as a pocket south of Watertown, SD. Harvest has been very slow to start in these areas. The early yield reports I’ve heard are impressive and in the range of 260bpa+ for early maturities! - Area Agronomy Manager, Jared Goplen
Eastern NE / Southwest IA: Southern areas of the region are rolling on harvest, or at least they were until this latest rainy spell. Many growers were going on high moisture corn or getting fields out where stalk integrity was a concern. It’s too early to put a yield trend together, but seed corn harvest is well underway, and yields are above average, which is usually a good indicator of what commercial fields will yield. While we wait for things to dry out, I would encourage growers to get out and do some push and pinch tests on stalks to gauge stalk integrity to help develop a harvest plan. - Area Agronomy Manager, Andy Swanson
Northwest Iowa: Harvest is in the beginning phases with most corn still above 25% moisture readings. Some early maturity (95-98 RM) hybrids are starting to be harvested due to the droughty conditions in the late summer and over 200 GDU’s above average in the region. Rainy conditions in September have slowed farmers progress on these fields but they are getting done. Silage chopping across the region is also in process with many fields already harvested. W7870 and W7759 have been proving to be excellent high yielding choices across the area. High moisture corn fields have started to be harvested in smaller quantities across the region as well.
North Central / Central Iowa: Less than 1% of corn fields are being reported as harvested. Many farmers are preforming moisture checks and fields are at too high moisture to harvest. Early harvest reports are for fields at high moisture harvest levels or early RM hybrids. Rainfall in the area will push majority of harvest back at least a week. - Area Agronomy Manager, Mike Witt
Recent Trial Highlights (View Latest Results)
Clarinda IA: W7876 (250), W7424 (250), W6644 (249), W7229 (248), W7819 (243) top 5 hybrids in a 16-entry trial
Edgerton, MN: W2557, W4487, W6479, W5684, W4514 top 5 hybrids in a 24-entry drought stressed plot
New Athens, IL: W9097 (259), W7819 (256), W8086 (254) finished in the top 5 of a 20-entry trial
Oakville, IA: W7499 (258) and W7424 (251) finished in top 5 of a 14 entry multi-brand trial
St Charles, MO: W6644 (300), W7424 (295), W7945 (295), W8086 (294) finished in the top 10 of a 20 entry multi-brand trial
Percival, IA: W6644 top $/A hybrid in 20 entry trial
"Keeping It Independent" Podcast
On this week's podcast, the Wyffels Agronomy Team talks early yield results, crown rot updates, and harvest timing considerations.
Get to Know the Wyffels Lineup!
The Wyffels Agronomy Team shares insights on new and top-performing products for 2026. These quick videos walk you through product characteristics, trait details, and best practices for top-end yield.
Welcome to the 2026 Harvest Progress Report. Combines are moving in certain corners of the Corn Belt, but progress remains minimal for now. For most of the region, corn maturity is ahead of schedule. Conditions remain somewhat uneven due to localized weather extremes, but we are expecting an earlier harvest for many corn growers.
Check back later in the week for detailed regional updates from our Agronomy team.
Recent Trial Highlights
Clarinda IA: W7876 (250), W7424 (250), W6644 (249), W7229 (248), W7819 (243) top 5 hybrids in a 16-entry trial
Edgerton, MN: W2557, W4487, W6479, W5684, W4514 top 5 hybrids in a 24-entry drought stressed plot
New Athens, IL: W9097 (259), W7819 (256), W8086 (254) finished in the top 5 of a 20-entry trial
Oakville, IA: W7499 (258) and W7424 (251) finished in top 5 of a 14 entry multi-brand trial
St Charles, MO: W6644 (300), W7424 (295), W7945 (295), W8086 (294) finished in the top 10 of a 20 entry multi-brand trial
Welcome to the 2026 Harvest Progress Report. Come back soon for harvest updates from across the Corn Belt.
It's the final stretch of harvest 2025 in the Central Corn Belt! Most farmers in Illinois and Iowa are either done or nearing the end of corn harvest. As you go north toward Minnesota and Wisconsin, progress becomes scattered. Some farmers are already done with corn, while others still remain closer to 50%.
Yield results remain highly variable and localized. Disease management continues to be the biggest factor in those returns. The majority of the region is seeing 200-250 bu/A, with outliers popping-up across the map. West central Illinois is seeing the highest yields (averaging closer to 250-275), and some growers in SW Minnesota are seeing their best results ever.
While the weather has cooled in recent weeks, the hot and dry start to October made stalk integrity issues common across the Corn Belt, especially in fields with heavy disease pressure.
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On this week's "Keeping It Independent" podcast, the Wyffels agronomy team discusses harvest progress, yield component analysis, fall fertilizer, and more. Watch HERE.
On this week's AgDay, they visit Wyffels grower and seed rep Mike Madsen who is finishing up harvest on a bumper corn crop in southern Minnesota. Watch HERE.
Corn trial yield results are coming in from across the Corn Belt! Explore individual trial results and gain insights on what's yielding - and how products are performing in specific environments. View Results.
We're entering the final stretch of harvest across the Corn Belt. Most farmers in Illinois and Iowa are either done or nearing the end of corn harvest. As you go north toward Minnesota and Wisconsin, progress becomes scattered. Some farmers are already done with corn, while others remain closer to 50%.
Yield results remain highly variable and localized. Disease management continues to be the biggest factor in those returns. The majority of the region is seeing 200-250 bu/A, with outliers popping-up across the map.
While the weather has cooled in recent weeks, the hot and dry start to October accelerated plant drydown. As a result, stalk integrity issues are common across the Corn Belt, especially in fields with heavy disease pressure.
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On this week's "Keeping It Independent" podcast, the Wyffels agronomy team discusses harvest progress, yield component analysis, fall fertilizer, and more. Watch HERE.
On this week's AgDay, they visit Wyffels grower and seed rep Mike Madsen who is finishing up harvest on a bumper corn crop in southern Minnesota. Watch HERE.
Corn trial yield results are coming in from across the Corn Belt! Explore individual trial results and gain insights on what's yielding - and how products are performing in specific environments. View Results.
We're entering the "dog days" of harvest across the Corn Belt. Farmers in Illinois and Iowa are nearing the end of corn harvest. As you go north toward Minnesota and Wisconsin, progress becomes variable. Some farmers are already done, while others remain closer to 50%.
Yield results remain highly variable and localized. Disease management and weather conditions continue to be the biggest factor in those returns. The majority of the region is seeing 200-250 bu/A, with outliers popping-up across the region.
While the weather is finally feeling like fall, the hot and dry start to October accelerated plant drydown. As a result, stalk integrity issues are common across the map, especially in fields with heavy disease pressure.
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On this week's "Keeping It Independent" podcast, the Wyffels agronomy team discusses harvest progress, yield component analysis, fall fertilizer, and more. Watch HERE.
In southern Wisconsin, Wyffels grower Casey Kelleher has been battling the weather late this season, but his corn yields are still pacing ahead of last year. Watch HERE.
Corn trial yield results are coming in from across the Corn Belt! Explore individual trial results and gain insights on what's yielding - and how products are performing in specific environments. View Results.
Harvest is in full swing across the Corn Belt. Farmers in Illinois and Iowa are about at the half way point of corn harvest. As you go north toward Minnesota and Wisconsin, progress is variable. Some farmers are nearing completion, while others remain below 25%.
Yield results remain highly variable and localized. Disease management and weather conditions continue to be the biggest factor in those returns. The majority of the region is seeing 200-250 bu/A, with outliers popping-up across the region.
While the weather has finally cooled down, the hot and dry start to October accelerated plant drydown. As a result, stalk integrity issues are common, especially in fields with heavy disease pressure.
As we enter October, harvest is rolling across the Corn Belt. Most farmers are still below 25% done with corn harvest, but there are pockets of greater progress in southeast Iowa and western Illinois.
Recent hot and dry conditions have accelerated plant drydown and harvest progress. As a result, stalk integrity issues are popping-up, especially in fields with heavy disease pressure.
Yield results remain variable, and disease management continues to be the biggest factor in those returns. The majority of the region is seeing 200-250 bu/A, with positive outliers in western Illinois.
Combines are rolling in the southern Corn Belt after a hot and dry end to the growing season, while northern portions of the region are still seeing limited action.
Early yield results are variable. Disease management is the primary conversation so far this fall. Fields where disease was managed effectively have been good, while those where disease got out-of-control have suffered.
