Exploring Yield Growth: US Crops in a Global 21st Century Context

Yield growth is critical to increasing crop output in the United States. US harvested land has been stable during the 21st Century and thus has not contributed to increasing US crop output (see farmdoc daily March 6, 2024). This study finds US yield growth varies by measure, crop, and comparative benchmark. Combined feed grain, food grain, and oilseed yield increased more for the US than any world region when measured in physical output units, but was in the middle when measured as percent increase. The US has a yield growth advantage in some crops, notably peanuts and soybeans; but for most crops lags the rest of the world, especially in percent increase. See data note.