US Corn Production by State: The Top 11

The primary cause of year-to-year variation in corn production by state is:

  1. The number of acres planted by producers to grow corn. In some states, many million acres of land are planted with corn resulting in billions of bushels of corn production.
  2. The weather conditions that occur during the corn growing season.

CropProphet uses daily weather conditions to forecast the end-of-season USDA estimated yield and production.  We publish additional statistics for US grain crop production here.

CropProphet provides weather-based corn yield and corn (and soybean) production forecasts.  In other words, we help grain traders, grain merchandisers, and discretionary and systematic commodity traders manage weather risk.  A wide range of grain commodity traders seize grain market trading opportunities using CropProphet by knowing the differences between market perceptions of corn production and our forecast.  As the market perception corrects towards the CropProphet forecasts corn prices change. Our customers have an information advantage in the grain market.  

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Table of Contents

State Corn Production Rankings

Top 11 Rankings of State Corn Production over Time

Impact of Flooding on Corn Yield – 1993

Corn Production – 1993

Rankings of State Corn Production by Year

2000-2004 2005-2009 2010-2014 2015-2019 2020-2022
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2001
2006
2011
2016
2021
2002
2007
2012
2017
2022
2003
2008
2013
2018
2004
2009
2014
2019

State Corn Production Rankings

According to the USDA NASS, 41 states produced a significant harvestable amount of corn in 2022. The United States produced 13.9 billion bushels of corn in 2022, down from 15 billion bushels in 2021. There is a lot of corn grown each year in the United States.

Iowa ranked first in corn production in 2022 despite drought impacting the growing season. Iowa produced 939 times more corn than Utah, which ranks #41 in US corn production by state.

National corn prices (i.e. corn futures prices) during each year are impacted not only by the national level of production but frequently how much a specific state produces. Local cash crop basis prices are directly impacted by the market perceptions of the corn and soybean production forecasts at the county level. This can have a direct impact on the corn producer. As a result, understanding not only corn production but also forecasts of corn production can have important financial implications for all participants in the grain markets.  But first, let’s examine where corn is grown in the United States.

Where is Corn Grown in the United States?

The graphic below shows where corn is grown in the United States.  Each county with a green color regularly grown corn and production is reported to the USDA.
The ranking of corn production by year is presented below.

US corn growing regions

The US counties where corn is grown in quantity. Deeper green colors indicate more corn is grown in that county.

Impact of Flooding on Corn Yield – 1993

The rankings of the top corn-producing states over the past five years have remained relatively stable. What might cause the ranking to change in any year? It’s likely due to two factors. One is a significant change in the number of acres corn is grown in a certain year. Another is the weather conditions over the regions growing corn.

As an example, let’s take a look at what happened in 1993 that allowed Illinois to celebrate being the #1 producer of corn in the United States if only for one year. The maps below show both the total precipitation by county for May, June, and July 1993. July 1993, in particular, has as much as 19 inches of rain above normal focused on Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas.

1993 Precipitation
1993 Precipitation

We can also look at the corn yield forecasts in terms of “deviation from technology trend” for the United States, Illinois, and Iowa. The progression of the yield forecasts shows that the significant precipitation in June negatively impacted Iowa corn yield and July simply made the situation worse. Meanwhile, during this time Illinois remained essentially unscathed with regards to the corn yield forecast.

The result is that the significant June and July 1993 precipitation totals in Iowa cause a significant decline in corn production. This is evident in the below map of county level corn production relative to the technology trend for 1993.

The difference in production between Iowa and Illinois occurred because Iowa state yield declined substantially because of the precipitation, as can be further seen by using an animation of the corn yield forecasts.

 

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Corn Production – 1993

The result of the corn yield decline caused by precipitation in 1993 was a significant decline in national production. The map below indicates a decline of 2.1 billion bushels of corn less than the technology trend yield would generate.

This significant weather-induced decline in Iowa production while Illinois corn production remained relatively unscathed allowed Illinois to rank first in state-level corn production.

The list of top 11 corn-producing states for each year from 2021 to 2000 is shown below.

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2022

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2022 was:

Production Rankings: 2022
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2480.0
2 Illinois 2268.4
3 Minnesota 1460.6
4 Nebraska 1455.3
5 Indiana 974.7
6 South Dakota 661.3
7 Ohio 594.7
8 Wisconsin 545.4
9 Kansas 510.6
10 Missouri 502.3
11 North Dakota 349.8

State Corn Production – 2022

Corn Production by State - 2022 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2021

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2021 was:

Production Rankings: 2021
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2539.8
2 Illinois 2191.7
3 Nebraska 1854.6
4 Minnesota 1387.7
5 Indiana 1027.7
6 Kansas 750.6
7 South Dakota 734.3
8 Ohio 644.6
9 Missouri 545.4
10 Wisconsin 540.0
11 North Dakota 381.1

State Corn Production – 2021

Corn Production by State - 2021 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2020

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2020 was:

Production Rankings: 2020
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2283.3
2 Illinois 2120.1
3 Nebraska 1780.2
4 Minnesota 1434.4
5 Indiana 981.8
6 Kansas 766.5
7 South Dakota 720.9
8 Ohio 564.3
9 Missouri 560.9
10 Wisconsin 506.9
11 Michigan 304.5

State Corn Production – 2020

Corn Production by State - 2020 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2019

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2019 was:

Production Rankings: 2019
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2583.9
2 Illinois 1846.2
3 Nebraska 1785.4
4 Minnesota 1254.2
5 Indiana 814.6
6 Kansas 800.7
7 South Dakota 557.3
8 Missouri 463.4
9 Wisconsin 443.2
10 Ohio 421.5
11 North Dakota 410.0

State Corn Production – 2019

Corn Production by State - 2019 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2018

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2018 was:

Production Rankings: 2018
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2499.0
2 Illinois 2268.0
3 Nebraska 1785.6
4 Minnesota 1357.7
5 Indiana 967.7
6 South Dakota 777.6
7 Kansas 642.4
8 Ohio 617.1
9 Wisconsin 545.2
10 Missouri 466.2
11 North Dakota 448.3

State Corn Production – 2018

Corn Production by State - 2018 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2017

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2017 was:

Production Rankings: 2017
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2605.8
2 Illinois 2200.9
3 Nebraska 1683.3
4 Minnesota 1480.2
5 Indiana 936.0
6 South Dakota 736.6
7 Kansas 686.4
8 Ohio 557.5
9 Missouri 552.5
10 Wisconsin 509.8
11 North Dakota 449.0

State Corn Production – 2017

Corn Production by State - 2017 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2016

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2016 was:

Production Rankings: 2016
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2740.5
2 Illinois 2255.7
3 Nebraska 1699.9
4 Minnesota 1544.0
5 Indiana 946.3
6 South Dakota 825.9
7 Kansas 698.6
8 Wisconsin 573.2
9 Missouri 570.5
10 Ohio 524.7
11 North Dakota 516.7

State Corn Production – 2016

Corn Production by State - 2016 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2015

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2015 was:

Production Rankings: 2015
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2505.6
2 Illinois 2012.5
3 Nebraska 1692.8
4 Minnesota 1428.8
5 Indiana 822.0
6 South Dakota 799.8
7 Kansas 580.2
8 Ohio 498.8
9 Wisconsin 492.0
10 Missouri 437.4
11 Michigan 335.3

State Corn Production – 2015

Corn Production by State - 2015 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2014

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2014 was:

Production Rankings: 2014
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2367.4
2 Illinois 2350.0
3 Nebraska 1602.0
4 Minnesota 1177.8
5 Indiana 1084.8
6 South Dakota 787.4
7 Missouri 628.7
8 Ohio 612.5
9 Kansas 566.2
10 Wisconsin 485.2
11 Michigan 355.8

State Corn Production – 2014

Corn Production by State - 2014 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2013

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2013 was:

Production Rankings: 2013
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2140.2
2 Illinois 2100.4
3 Nebraska 1614.0
4 Minnesota 1294.3
5 Indiana 1031.9
6 South Dakota 802.8
7 Ohio 650.8
8 Kansas 504.0
9 Wisconsin 439.4
10 Missouri 435.2
11 North Dakota 396.0

State Corn Production – 2013

Corn Production by State - 2013 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2012

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2012 was:

Production Rankings: 2012
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 1876.9
2 Minnesota 1374.4
3 Nebraska 1292.2
4 Illinois 1286.2
5 Indiana 597.0
6 South Dakota 535.3
7 Ohio 438.0
8 North Dakota 422.1
9 Wisconsin 396.0
10 Kansas 375.2
11 Michigan 314.2

State Corn Production – 2012

Corn Production by State - 2012 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2011

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2011 was:

Production Rankings: 2011
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2356.4
2 Illinois 1939.0
3 Nebraska 1536.0
4 Minnesota 1193.5
5 Indiana 839.5
6 South Dakota 653.4
7 Wisconsin 514.6
8 Ohio 489.6
9 Kansas 449.4
10 Missouri 347.7
11 Michigan 335.1

State Corn Production – 2011

Corn Production by State - 2011 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2010

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2010 was:

Production Rankings: 2010
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2153.2
2 Illinois 1946.8
3 Nebraska 1469.1
4 Minnesota 1292.1
5 Indiana 898.0
6 Kansas 576.6
7 South Dakota 569.7
8 Ohio 523.2
9 Wisconsin 502.2
10 Missouri 369.0
11 Michigan 312.9

State Corn Production – 2010

Corn Production by State - 2010 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2009

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2009 was:

Production Rankings: 2009
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2407.3
2 Illinois 2053.2
3 Nebraska 1584.2
4 Minnesota 1244.1
5 Indiana 933.7
6 South Dakota 706.7
7 Kansas 598.3
8 Ohio 536.9
9 Wisconsin 448.3
10 Missouri 446.8
11 Michigan 309.3

State Corn Production – 2009

Corn Production by State - 2009 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2008

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2008 was:

Production Rankings: 2008
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2188.8
2 Illinois 2130.1
3 Nebraska 1393.7
4 Minnesota 1166.4
5 Indiana 873.6
6 South Dakota 585.2
7 Kansas 482.8
8 Ohio 408.7
9 Wisconsin 394.6
10 Missouri 381.6
11 Michigan 295.3

State Corn Production – 2008

Corn Production by State - 2008 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2007

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2007 was:

Production Rankings: 2007
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2376.9
2 Illinois 2283.8
3 Nebraska 1472.0
4 Minnesota 1146.1
5 Indiana 981.0
6 South Dakota 542.1
7 Ohio 541.5
8 Kansas 507.8
9 Missouri 457.8
10 Wisconsin 442.8
11 Texas 291.6

State Corn Production – 2007

Corn Production by State - 2007 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2006

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2006 was:

Production Rankings: 2006
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2050.1
2 Illinois 1817.4
3 Nebraska 1178.0
4 Minnesota 1102.8
5 Indiana 844.7
6 Ohio 470.6
7 Wisconsin 400.4
8 Missouri 362.9
9 Kansas 345.0
10 South Dakota 312.3
11 Michigan 286.6

State Corn Production – 2006

Corn Production by State - 2006 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2005

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2005 was:

Production Rankings: 2005
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2162.5
2 Illinois 1708.8
3 Nebraska 1270.5
4 Minnesota 1191.9
5 Indiana 888.6
6 South Dakota 470.0
7 Kansas 465.8
8 Ohio 464.8
9 Wisconsin 429.2
10 Missouri 329.7
11 Michigan 287.4

State Corn Production – 2005

Corn Production by State - 2005 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2004

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2004 was:

Production Rankings: 2004
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 2244.4
2 Illinois 2088.0
3 Nebraska 1319.7
4 Minnesota 1121.0
5 Indiana 929.0
6 South Dakota 539.5
7 Ohio 491.4
8 Missouri 466.6
9 Kansas 432.0
10 Wisconsin 353.6
11 Michigan 257.3

State Corn Production – 2004

Corn Production by State - 2004 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2003

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2003 was:

Production Rankings: 2003
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 1868.3
2 Illinois 1812.2
3 Nebraska 1124.2
4 Minnesota 970.9
5 Indiana 786.9
6 Ohio 478.9
7 South Dakota 427.4
8 Wisconsin 367.6
9 Missouri 302.4
10 Kansas 300.0
11 Michigan 259.8

State Corn Production – 2003

Corn Production by State - 2003 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2002

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2002 was:

Production Rankings: 2002
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 1931.6
2 Illinois 1471.5
3 Minnesota 1051.9
4 Nebraska 940.8
5 Indiana 631.6
6 Wisconsin 391.5
7 South Dakota 308.8
8 Kansas 301.6
9 Missouri 283.5
10 Ohio 264.3
11 Michigan 234.0

State Corn Production – 2002

Corn Production by State - 2002 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2001

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2001 was:

Production Rankings: 2001
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 1664.4
2 Illinois 1649.2
3 Nebraska 1139.2
4 Indiana 884.5
5 Minnesota 806.0
6 Ohio 437.5
7 Kansas 387.4
8 South Dakota 370.6
9 Missouri 345.8
10 Wisconsin 330.2
11 Michigan 199.5

State Corn Production – 2001

Corn Production by State - 2001 Rankings

Corn Production by State: Top 11 of 2000

The top 11 corn-producing states (and their total production) of 2000 was:

Production Rankings: 2000
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 1728.0
2 Illinois 1668.6
3 Nebraska 1014.3
4 Minnesota 964.2
5 Indiana 810.3
6 Ohio 485.1
7 South Dakota 425.6
8 Kansas 412.1
9 Missouri 396.1
10 Wisconsin 363.0
11 Michigan 241.8

State Corn Production – 2000

Corn Production by State - 2000 Rankings

 

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