Corn yields surprised many Manitoba producers
Manitoba’s average corn yield hit a record 147 bushels per acre, Statistics Canada reports, surprising growers after a dry early season. Farmers like Warren McCutcheon saw strong yields despite limited rainfall. Grain corn output is 5.5% higher than 2024, with many producers nearing last year’s on-farm averages.
WINNIPEG —The average corn yield in Manitoba was 147 bushels per acre, Statistics Canada says.
That number would set a provincial record and sounds high, since many regions of Manitoba were extremely dry in May, June and early July.
However, corn surprised many growers this fall, including Warren McCutcheon, who farms near Carman.
“We were extremely dry and (it was) incredible what we did get with the little amount of rain,” said McCutcheon.
“We were about 175 (bu. per acre) in 2024… across the farm. I don’t know if we’ll get there this year, but we’re not far off.”
Statistics Canada said in its Dec. 4 crop production report that Manitoba’s grain corn yields were 5.5 per cent higher than 2024.
The 147 bu. per acre estimate doesn’t jive with the Manitoba Agriculture crop report. In October, the crop report pegged grain corn yields at 90 to 150 bu. per acre.
Morgan Cott, agronomy extension specialist with the Manitoba Crop Alliance, is skeptical about the 147 bu. estimate.
Some producers did produce incredible corn crops – of around 200 bu. per acre. However, the majority of corn growers had much lower yields.
“I would assume most of the crop would be between 100 and 160ish,” she said.
“I don’t expect it to be a (yield) record.”
Nailing down a provincial yield isn’t an easy task, but it’s possible that corn yields are higher than expected.
On his farm, McCutcheon barely had any rain for about six weeks. However, cooler temperatures this summer, with daily highs rarely hitting 30 Cs, may have preserved soil moisture and protected the yield potential of corn crops.
When the rain finally arrived, in August, it helped with grain fill and likely pushed yield higher.
The region south of Carman, which is Manitoba’s primary corn growing region, received more moisture, and corn yields were through the roof.
“They caught two or three inches more rain,” McCutcheon said, noting that some growers topped 200 bu. per acre.
“If you can field average 200, that’s absolutely incredible. I think there were some numbers bigger than that…. The main corn growing area of the province was pretty darn good.”
Looking beyond Manitoba, the average corn yield in Canada was 162 bu. per acre in 2025, Statistics Canada says.
That’s down four per cent from 2024.
Dry conditions weighed on Ontario corn yields, and the provincial average in 2025 was 175.6 bu. per acre.
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Source: The Western Producers
