Harvest Is Almost Here!
Sep 01, 2026
Jarod Lemper
Grain Division Manager
THIS WILL PROBABLY be the last Key newsletter you read before harvest begins. Besides the ponds, we’re looking at a respectable crop this year. In the August USDA crop report, the yield estimates were revised down a bit to 52.7 bu/acre for soybeans and 180.7 bu/acre for corn. They also raised harvested corn acres by about 1.2 million acres and soybeans by 1.4 million acres. All said and done, final production numbers didn’t change much.
Carryout declined a bit on both corn and beans. Although declining from the previous year, it is still high enough to keep prices in check. We will soon know how early harvest numbers compare to the August projections. Hopefully, you’ve been able to take advantage of the rallies the market provided and were able to make some good sales for this fall. Please reach out to anyone on the Key Origination team to talk marketing options.
Our goal every harvest is to make the fall go as smoothly for you as we can, so we’ve been doing everything we can to prepare our facilities. Each location has done its annual preventative maintenance, and we’re creating as much space for your grain as possible.
There have not been any significant changes to any Key facilities in the northern trade area, but I’m sure everyone is aware of the new hoop building at our Newton location. The Grinnell/Sully/Newton area has needed additional storage for some time. This building, with the added storage capacity it brings, will allow us more flexibility in handling the harvest. I’m excited to see what the building looks like full of corn! Hopefully many of you were able to attend the open house at Newton and see it up close for yourself.
At this time, I do not anticipate any significant changes to the 2026/2027 fall grain policies, which will be posted this month. I hope everyone has a safe and bountiful harvest.
Grain Division Manager
THIS WILL PROBABLY be the last Key newsletter you read before harvest begins. Besides the ponds, we’re looking at a respectable crop this year. In the August USDA crop report, the yield estimates were revised down a bit to 52.7 bu/acre for soybeans and 180.7 bu/acre for corn. They also raised harvested corn acres by about 1.2 million acres and soybeans by 1.4 million acres. All said and done, final production numbers didn’t change much.
Carryout declined a bit on both corn and beans. Although declining from the previous year, it is still high enough to keep prices in check. We will soon know how early harvest numbers compare to the August projections. Hopefully, you’ve been able to take advantage of the rallies the market provided and were able to make some good sales for this fall. Please reach out to anyone on the Key Origination team to talk marketing options.
Our goal every harvest is to make the fall go as smoothly for you as we can, so we’ve been doing everything we can to prepare our facilities. Each location has done its annual preventative maintenance, and we’re creating as much space for your grain as possible.
There have not been any significant changes to any Key facilities in the northern trade area, but I’m sure everyone is aware of the new hoop building at our Newton location. The Grinnell/Sully/Newton area has needed additional storage for some time. This building, with the added storage capacity it brings, will allow us more flexibility in handling the harvest. I’m excited to see what the building looks like full of corn! Hopefully many of you were able to attend the open house at Newton and see it up close for yourself.
At this time, I do not anticipate any significant changes to the 2026/2027 fall grain policies, which will be posted this month. I hope everyone has a safe and bountiful harvest.