U.S. farmers are on track to produce the largest soybean crop in history, according to the latest Crop Production report, released Aug. 12 by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Soybean production is forecast at a record 3.2 billion bushels, up 8 percent from last year. Yield is expected to average 41.7 bushels/acre, up 2.1 bu/a from 2008. If realized, this will be the fourth-largest soybean yield on record.
With the exception of Illinois, USDA said soybean yields will be higher or unchanged from last year across the Cornbelt and Great Plains. The largest increase in yield is expected in Ohio, up 11 bushels from 2008. Soybean area for harvest in the U.S. is forecast at 76.8 million acres, up slightly from June and up 3 percent from 2008.
Corn production is forecast at 12.8 billion bushels, up 5 percent from last year but down 2 percent from the 2007 record. Based on conditions as of Aug. 1, USDA said corn yields are expected to average 159.5 bu/a, up 5.6 bushels from last year. If realized, this will be the second highest yield on record, USDA noted.
Growers are expected to harvest 80 million acres of corn for grain, down 100,000 acres from June, but up 2 percent from last year.
USDA said forecasted corn yields are higher than last year across the central Great Plains and Western Cornbelt where mild temperatures and adequate soil moisture provided favorable growing conditions. Expected yields were also higher across much of the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys and Atlantic Coast, where beneficial moisture this year contrasted with exceptionally dry conditions last year. Yield prospects are lower in the Central Cornbelt, where excessive spring moisture delayed planting and below normal temperatures slowed corn emergence and development, USDA said.
All cotton production is forecast at 13.2 million bales, up 3 percent from last year. Yield is expected to average 816 pounds per harvested acre, up 3 pounds from last year. Producers expect to harvest 7.77 million acres of all cotton, up 3 percent from last year.
Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.54 billion bushels, up 1 percent from the July 1 forecast, but down 18 percent from 2008. Based on Aug. 1 conditions, the average U.S. winter wheat yield is forecast at 44.2 bu/a, up from last month but 3 bushels below last year. Harvest in 18 major producing states was 85 percent complete by Aug. 2, USDA said
All wheat production in the U.S. is forecast at 2.18 billion bushels, up 3 percent from the July forecast but down 13 percent from 2008.