Each year, farmers produce more than a billion metric tons of corn. As technology advances, researchers are looking at how that could change with nuclear contamination.
Researchers at Penn State University have studied how a nuclear war scenario would play out at nearly 40,000 locations around the world. Using their agro-ecosystem, they found that if five tons of soot were to drop, it would lower corn production by seven percent. On a larger scale, with 165 tons of soot, that number jumps to an 80 percent drop in corn yields.
Researchers say they hope this scenario never happens, but they warn it is always best to prepare for catastrophic events.
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U.S. grain export inspections stayed solid for the week ending May 7, with corn still leading the export pace and soybeans posting a strong weekly rebound.
While there is no guarantee a House vote will happen today, the measure has officially been placed on the congressional calendar.
USDA’s first 2026/27 outlook shows tighter supplies across several markets, led by wheat, corn, cotton, rice, beef, and sugar.
Strong export demand is supportive, but higher freight costs may pressure basis and grain movement margins.
USDA says planting progress remains strong nationwide, though some soybean fields are still slow to emerge.
The lower outlook follows months of drought stress across major winter wheat regions, where some producers have abandoned fields or shifted acres to grazing instead of harvest.
