Missouri Harvest 80% Complete as Corn Yields Hit Exceptional Marks

Harvest sits roughly 80% complete across an 18-county stretch of north-central Missouri, with corn yields running what one Nutrien Ag Solutions consultant calls "pretty exceptional" and soybeans tracking "well above average."

Tyler Richardson, a crop consultant with Nutrien Ag Solutions, delivered the condition report on the Nov. 7, 2026 episode of This Week in Agribusiness, hosted by Mike Pearson. His message to growers weighing 2027 seed purchases: slow down and read the data.

"Jumping ship and getting nervous can end up costing you money in the end," Richardson said, urging producers to evaluate multi-year performance before switching seed products. One off year, in his framing, isn't a verdict on a hybrid.

His numbers anchor the season. Eighty percent done. Corn exceptional. Soybeans above average. Condition reports like these are field observations, not harvested and certified yield totals, but they signal strong margins where basis holds.

Can growers cut input costs without cutting performance?

Mark Baster, regional sales manager with SprayTech, said Midwest growers used products including Full-Tech Cube and Ultra Zinc this season to boost crop performance while trimming input spending. The savings came through lower use rates, reduced fuel burn and less mixing time in the field.

Asked about SprayTech's biggest advantage, Baster pointed past the product label. "I think a lot of it is actually our team. Not necessarily just our products," he said.

The episode also flagged tank-mix nutritional options — zinc products and fungicide boosters — as levers for late-season crop health and cost control heading into next year.

What does the election change for the farm bill?

Josh Baethge, policy editor at Farm Progress, noted that post-election changes to House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership could slow farm bill progress. His read: an extension of current law looks more likely than new legislation.

That matters for planning. Payments, conservation programs and crop insurance parameters tied to the farm bill all hang on whether new leadership can move a bill or defaults to an extension. Growers should watch committee leadership decisions take shape in the new year.

Other takeaways for the post-harvest window

The episode's practical checklist for producers:

• Harvest is nearing completion across much of the Corn Belt; use the post-harvest window to rest before locking in 2027 input decisions.
• Review multiple years of yield data before abandoning a seed hybrid after one poor season.
• Consider tank-mix nutritional products such as zinc and fungicide boosters to improve late-season crop health and trim costs.
• Combined heat and power units running on propane may cut energy costs for livestock and dairy operations, with grants available through PERC.
• Monitor farm bill developments as Congressional Agriculture Committee leadership changes take shape in the new year.

The through-line for 2027 planning: strong yields this fall give growers room to breathe, but seed decisions, input purchases and policy exposure all reward patience over reaction. Richardson's warning about jumping ship applies well beyond seed — the growers who read their own multi-year data before spending will likely keep more of this season's margin.