Wyoming Corn Yield & Precision Agriculture Data 2025
Wyoming Corn yield reached 145.0 bu/acre in 2025 — 41.5 bu/ac below the US average of 186.5 bu/ac. State-level estimates, sourced directly from USDA NASS.
Corn yield trend
Wyoming vs the US average, 2020–2025 (6 years of USDA NASS data)
| Year | Wyoming (bu/ac) | US average (bu/ac) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 122 | 171.4 |
| 2021 | 132 | 176.7 |
| 2022 | 153 | 173.4 |
| 2023 | 153 | 177.3 |
| 2024 | 155 | 179.3 |
| 2025 | 145 | 186.5 |
How Wyoming compares
Top Corn-producing states, 2025 yield
| State | Yield (bu/ac) | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 251 | +34.6% |
| Oregon | 236 | +26.5% |
| Illinois | 214 | +14.7% |
| Iowa | 210 | +12.6% |
| Idaho | 209 | +12.1% |
| Indiana | 204 | +9.4% |
| Minnesota | 201 | +7.8% |
| Nebraska | 194 | +4% |
What this data means for Wyoming Corn farmers
Wyoming corn yields reached 145 bushels per acre in 2025, a drop of 10 bu/acre from the 155 bu/acre recorded in 2024 and erasing much of the gains built since 2020's low of 122 bu/acre. Despite that longer-term recovery, Wyoming still trails the national average of 186.5 bu/acre by 41.5 bushels, a gap that translates directly into lost revenue for growers operating in the state's challenging high-altitude, semi-arid conditions. At the current corn price of $4.35 per bushel, that 41.5 bu/acre deficit represents roughly $180 in foregone gross revenue per acre compared to what a producer capturing the US average yield would generate. Closing even a portion of that gap is where precision agriculture tools offer their clearest case.
Variable-rate irrigation scheduling and soil-moisture sensing are particularly high-value in Wyoming, where water stress during pollination is a primary driver of yield loss, and marginal improvements in timing can recover 10 to 15 bu/acre in a typical season. At $4.35 per bushel, a 10 bu/acre yield gain adds $43.50 per acre in gross revenue, which comfortably offsets the annual per-acre cost of most sensor-based management subscriptions running $8 to $15 per acre. Precision nitrogen application tools offer a second lever, reducing input costs by $20 to $30 per acre on over-fertilized ground while protecting yield. For a 500-acre Wyoming corn operation, stacking irrigation and fertility management technology can realistically improve net margin by $30,000 or more annually, making the ROI case straightforward even in a down-yield year like 2025.
Precision ag platforms used by Wyoming Corn farmers
Overview of major platforms — features and fit for different operation sizes. No sponsored content.
Precision ag ROI calculator
Estimate annual savings for your Wyoming Corn farm based on acreage and current yield
Estimate the payback on variable-rate seeding, zone-based fertility, and overlap reduction for your farm.
Estimate only — based on industry-average implementation costs (variable-rate seeding $18/ac, zone-based fertility $22/ac, overlap reduction $9/ac; $12,000 fixed + $17/ac ongoing) and USDA yield benchmarks, not a quote.
Frequently asked questions — Wyoming Corn
Why does Wyoming corn yield average 145 bu/acre compared to the US average of 186.5 bu/acre?
Wyoming's corn yields trail the national average by 41.5 bu/acre primarily due to its high elevation, shorter growing season, and semi-arid climate that limits consistent moisture availability during critical pollination and grain-fill stages. Many Wyoming corn acres rely on irrigation from limited water allocations, and cooler nighttime temperatures in key growing regions can slow dry matter accumulation compared to Corn Belt states.
What is the potential return on investment for precision agriculture technology on a Wyoming corn operation at current prices?
At $4.35 per bushel, each additional bushel per acre gained through precision practices such as variable-rate seeding, soil sampling, or yield mapping generates measurable revenue across Wyoming's corn acres. For example, closing even half the 41.5 bu/acre gap with the national average could yield an additional $90.26 per acre in gross revenue, which can justify the cost of precision ag inputs and services within one to two growing seasons on a mid-sized operation.
What USDA programs are available to Wyoming corn producers looking to improve yields or manage revenue risk?
Wyoming corn growers can enroll in USDA's Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs through their local Farm Service Agency office to help offset revenue shortfalls when yields or prices fall below benchmark levels. Additionally, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers EQIP funding in Wyoming for irrigation efficiency upgrades and soil health practices that can directly support higher corn yields in the state's water-limited environment.
What local growing conditions in Wyoming most affect corn yield potential, and how can growers mitigate them?
Wyoming corn production is concentrated in lower-elevation river valleys such as the Bighorn Basin and North Platte River corridor, where frost-free periods are longer but still shorter than the central Corn Belt, making hybrid selection for appropriate relative maturity critical. Growers can mitigate yield-limiting factors by using shorter-season hybrids rated for Wyoming conditions, optimizing irrigation scheduling through soil moisture monitoring, and applying precision nutrient management to compensate for the state's often alkaline, lower-organic-matter soils.