Record US corn harvest raises alarm among producers

The projection of a record corn harvest in the United States in 2025 has raised alarm among producers. The most recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), WASDE, estimated production of 16,7 billion bushels, a volume 9,1% higher than the previous record, set in 2023. This figure represents 1,4 billion bushels above the historic mark. Average yields are expected to reach 188,8 bushels per acre.

With prices already at historically low levels, the prospect of oversupply provoked immediate reactions. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) stepped up its call for urgent action from Congress and the Trump administration to prevent a collapse in the industry.

"Producers are already selling corn at extremely low prices. This crop projection without market solutions puts even more pressure on prices," said NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr., a producer in Illinois. He said there's an urgent need to create new demand channels to move the surplus.

The NCGA prioritizes the passage of legislation authorizing the use of 15% ethanol blends (E15) year-round. The organization estimates that the measure would create demand for an additional 457 million bushels of corn. The proposal would not require new infrastructure investments or increase fuel prices for consumers.

Another area of NCGA's work is to accelerate trade agreements with strategic countries. India, Vietnam, and Kenya are among the target markets for US corn. The association is demanding swift completion of already announced negotiations.

Hartman recalled the agricultural collapse of the 1980s to warn about the severity of the current situation. "My family survived the agricultural crisis of the 80s. I don't want my daughter talking about a crisis of the 2020s 40 years from now," he said. "The situation is serious. We need to create market demand to get out of this hole."