Missouri corn growers are optimistic after a warm and wet summer

Corn growers are in a good mood at this year's Missouri State Fair following a wet and warm summer.

Bradley Schad, CEO of the Missouri Corn Growers Association, says 2026 is shaping up to be one of the strongest growing seasons the state has seen in years.

“One thing stays constant, and that’s change in the climate,” Schad said. “We’ve seen it, we continue to adapt in working with our operations. But ultimately, every year is different. And farmers are eternal optimists. It’s always going to be better next year. And this year is probably one of the best we’ve had in a long time.”

Much of that optimism comes down to timing. Growers across the state got seed in the ground early this spring, and the weather cooperated when it mattered most.

“It’s been a great year. We’ve got a lot of rainfall this year. Of course, there’s going to be some channels and things that are drowned out from too much water. But overall, it’s been a great growing season,” Schad said. “A lot of farmers got in early across the state. Got the fields planted early. And, so overall, the state of Missouri looks phenomenal for corn and soybeans.”

Some parts of the state struggled through a cool start to summer and needed a critical stretch of warm weather to help crops catch up. On top of that, summer storms flattened corn in a number of areas.

“We got the heat units that we needed last week and the week before for the corn, because corn needs some heat to grow, and so we’re glad to have that, because it had been cool early on through the month of May and everything,” Schad said. “The rain has just continued to bless us pretty well across the state. There’s a few dry pockets down in southeast Missouri. But a lot of those guys have some irrigation that helps out throughout the summer.”

Storm damage also took a toll in some regions, though Schad says most fields recovered.

“We have had some storm damage as well, blowing some corn down. A lot of it came back up, but we still do have some areas that have been impacted pretty heavily by that,” he said. “So overall, we’re gonna have a good year for corn.”

Schad says growers are increasingly relying on new technology to manage the season-to-season swings that come with farming in Missouri’s climate.

“The technology that we have in the scene is helping us adapt to any changes from year to year that we have,” he said.

For now, growers across the state are cautiously optimistic heading into harvest.