Indiana Corn Yield Plummets

The report says the overall popcorn crop value dipped 38 percent.

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A new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows 2015 corn production in Indiana hit a three-year low. In 2012, farmers were hit with a summer drought that led to lower yields. Despite the drop, the final totals were higher than previous projections in November.

The crop’s growth was stifled by heavy rains and flooding in June and July that blanketed much of the state. August and September then brought a different problem: drought-like conditions. Purdue Extension corn specialist Bob Nielsen says "the final USDA information apparently indicated either more Indiana corn acres were affected by last year’s severe weather or the magnitude of the yield reduction was higher than estimated."

2014 was a record year for corn in the state. The USDA says 867.4 million bushels of corn were produced last season, compared to 1.08 million bushels the previous harvest.

Soybeans fared somewhat better than corn, with a final production tally of 275 million bushels in 2015, compared to 307.4 million bushels the year earlier.