The final USDA state corn yield for 2005 is 148 bu/A, a new record. Corn farmers in Wisconsin have had 25 record corn yields since 1866 (Table 1). What happens the year following a record year? On average, grain yield decreases 6% the year following a record year. In only two cases were records set two years in a row (1948-49 and 1965-66). There have been three cases where a tie occurred (1942-43, 1981-82, and 1986-87). For 19 of 24 records years, corn yield decreased up to 33% the following year. The range in percent change from a record year to the next is 49% (-33 to 16%). On average, it will take another six years before a new corn production record will be set for the state.

Table 1. USDA corn yield (bu/A) record years in Wisconsin since 1866 and yield the following year.
Record Year			Next Year
Year	Yield	Percent Change from previous record	Year	Yield	Percent Change after record year
1867	38	32	1868	36	-4
1870	38	1	1871	37	-3
1900	39	2	1901	26	-33
1921	39	1	1922	37	-6
1925	40	3	1926	32	-20
1940	42	5	1941	41	-2
1942	46	10	1943	46	0
1946	47	1	1947	45	-4
1948	48	3	1949	55	15
1949	55	15	1950	48	-13
1952	64	16	1953	62	-4
1956	68	6	1957	64	-6
1959	71	4	1960	63	-12
1961	73	3	1962	70	-4
1965	76	4	1966	88	16
1966	88	16	1967	83	-6
1968	95	8	1969	88	-7
1971	98	3	1972	95	-3
1977	104	6	1978	98	-6
1981	108	4	1982	108	0
1986	118	9	1987	118	0
1991	119	1	1992	104	-13
1994	141	18	1995	114	-19
1999	143	1	2000	132	-8
2005	148	3	---	---	---
			Average		-6