Real world opportunities, connections and experiences 🌽 Apply for the Class 10 of the Kansas Corn Collegiate Academy: kscorn.com/collegiate-academ….

The USDA’s October WASDE report surprised corn markets when it increased the projected national corn yield by 2.7 bushels per acre, just one month after lowering the estimate by 2.2 bushels. But how unusual is it for the USDA to reverse course so quickly? Learn more in this report from Taylor Williamson, Kansas Corn Director of Policy and Economics: kscorn.com/down-then-up-exam….

Today’s #Harvest26 update comes from Paige Clawson, Southwest Kansas Corn Commissioner, who harvested their fungicide efficacy and timing plot last week. The Kansas Corn Commission collaborated with Dr. Rodrigo Onofre, KSU Plant Pathologist, on five large scale, 40-60 acre plots replicated throughout the state. This applied research investigates the impact of different fungicide applications on yield. Results of the trials will be made public soon and can be found at kscorn.com/onfarmresearch.

Find out where gubernatorial candidates, Cindy Holscher and Ty Masterson, stand on issues important to Kansas corn growers and agriculture 👇 Read more about Cindy's answers: kscorn.com/candidate-spotlig…. Read more about Ty's answers: kscorn.com/candidate-spotlig….

Kansas Corn is appreciative of the Trump Administration's efforts to address the challenges facing our farmers. High input prices, low commodity prices and access to markets remain amongst farmers' top concerns. The Harvest Fuel Relief Program will help ease the burden as we work to accomplish some of our long-term priorities to make the agricultural economy healthier, like signing year-round E15 into law, overhauling the USDA's reporting data and strengthening relationships with trading partners. Read the full announcement from the USDA: usda.gov/about-usda/news/pre….

Today’s #Harvest26 update comes from Morgan Marshall and Andy Foster, near Rossville in Shawnee County. “It’s been a rough corn season, we had 5 1/2” of rain right at planting and very little until we had 5 1/2” at the start of harvest,” Foster said. “Short corn stalks with ears close to the ground has made for a tough harvest.”

The week in three numbers 👇 • 86,482: The number of contracts managed money removed from their net long position in corn futures and options as of Oct. 13. • 10.46%: The amount of corn exports as a percentage of the USDA’s 2026/27 forecast as of Oct. 8. The pace needed to hit USDA’s forecast is 11.54%, leaving us 1.08% shy of the pace needed. • 70%: Percentage of the Kansas corn crop that has been harvested, down from the five-year average of 73%. Read more in this week's Market Commentary: kscorn.com/october-19-market….

A look at exporting Kansas corn through U.S. beef and pork in 2025 🔎

This week, Kansas Corn hosted a Mexican corn and DDGS buying team in eastern Kansas, sponsored by U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council. The 13-person group represented corn importers from across Mexico. The first part of the trip highlighted the efficiency of moving Kansas corn products to destinations in Mexico, with stops at CPKC and BNSF railroads. Understanding what corn products Kansas and the U.S. have to offer was the focus of stops at East Kansas Agri Energy in Garnett and the shuttle train facility at Farmers COOP in Frankfort. Jeff and Sara Albers hosted the final day of the trip at their grain and livestock operation in Denton. The group experienced firsthand how corn is used in livestock feed and discussed the 2026 corn crop quality.

After last week's surprise USDA report sent corn prices lower, farmers like KCGA Vice President Brett Grauerholz are urging calm. Read the article or watch: ow.ly/C0r150ZYcX2

Applications for class 10 of Kansas Corn's Collegiate Academy are due November 15! Apply today and learn more at kscorn.com/collegiate-academ….

Kansas Corn recently joined the U.S. Grains Council, Kansas Bioproducts, and Kansas Sorghum on a tour highlighting Kansas agriculture, ethanol production, and grain markets. The group kicked off the morning at the Cardinal Colwich Ethanol Plant, where Scott Tilton with The Andersons discussed DDGS (distillers dried grains with solubles) and CFPs (corn fermented protein) and answered questions from the group. Following the discussion, participants toured the facility before heading west to visit additional ethanol plants, grain storage facilities, and Vulgamore Family Farms. The tour will wrap up with a trip to Seattle for Export Exchange, connecting industry leaders from around the world to explore opportunities in U.S. grain exports and markets.

The Week in Three Numbers: $2.03 — The swing in absolute value between corn’s low set on June 30, its high set on Sept. 2, and the low set last Friday. 6.45% — The percent drop in the corn market after the Friday WASDE report. 2 — The number of times over the last 20 years corn has experienced a greater than $2 low-high-low swing under similar timing parameters to this year. Read the full Market Commentary from Taylor Williamson: kscorn.com/october-13-market….

"While waiving state and federal taxes on on-road fuel would not be a magic bullet to alleviate the pain from record fuel prices, it would amount to a 51.4 cent per gallon decrease in the price of diesel when hauling crops and cattle. In today's tight and negative margin environment, every little bit helps."

USDA NASS estimates that Kansas will harvest 6.55 million acres of corn, with an average yield of 125 bushels per acre, down from 145 in 2025. The total projected production is 818.75 million bushels, down from 942.5 million bushels in 2025. As the season continues, we'll keep you updated on Kansas corn production estimates.

Season: harvest

Are you a college student interested in ag policy? Apply for class 10 of the Kansas Corn Collegiate Academy: kscorn.com/collegiate-academ….

54% — The percentage of the Kansas corn crop that has been harvested, which is slightly ahead of the five-year average. Read about this and more in this week's Market Commentary: kscorn.com/october-6-market-….

Located along the Kansas-Nebraska border, the Freitag family of Free Day Farms LLC grows field corn, white corn and popcorn. The family has a long history with specialty corn. Nate’s great-grandfather grew white corn during his time farming, and the Freitag family has been growing it consistently for about five years. Nate’s dad, Lonnie Freitag, began growing popcorn in the 1980s and sold it to commercial processors through the 2010s. In 2015, the family established Free Day Popcorn, allowing them to grow, package and ship popcorn directly from their farm. Nate Freitag's #Harvest26 Update: “We were able to get back in the field today after about a two-week shutdown due to rain. Our area received about 10 inches of rain in September. Luckily, we started harvest earlier than ever before and were able to complete our popcorn harvest before the most recent rains. "Right now, we are picking white corn. We take it to several different places, including a mill in Oklahoma and some local co-ops that deliver to Mexico. The corn is standing well, and there doesn’t seem to be too much sprouting or disease. We’re happy we paid a little extra for a fungicide application this summer. "Last year, we had a very strong wind event in August that flattened a lot of our corn. It’s a lot more fun to pick standing corn!” White corn is primarily used by milling facilities and food manufacturers to make some of our favorite foods, including tortillas, tortilla chips, cornmeal, grits and corn flour. White corn is also an important part of the U.S.-Mexico agricultural trade relationship, with Mexico importing U.S. white corn for food use.

Stepping up and serving 🌽 Three Kansas farmer leaders and two Kansas Corn staff are part of the NCGA's 2026-2027 action teams! Read more about their assignments: kscorn.com/kansas-farmer-lea….