(SPRINGFIELD) The USDA estimates American corn farmers produced more than 17 billion bushels of corn in 2025. In fact, the record estimate was boosted by a significant increase in harvested acres, bumped up by 4.5 million acres to 91.25 million, the highest since 1933. The corn yield estimate was also higher at a record 186.5 bushels per acre, up from 179.3 in 2024. The USDA pegged Illinois corn production from last season at 2.35 billion bushels with an average yield of 214 bushels per acre, down 3.2% from its November estimate for Illinois.
