USDA eyes more corn and soybeans, less cotton

Washington, D.C.-According to USDA’s latest crop production report, released Sept. 12 by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, corn production in the U.S. is forecast at 11.1 billion bushels, up 1 percent from last month and fractionally above 2005. Based on conditions as of Sept. 1, yields are expected to average 154.7 bushels/acre, up 2.5 bushels from August and 6.8 bushels from last year. USDA attributed the increase to improved soil moisture levels and crop conditions in the northern Great Plains and western Cornbelt. If realized, yield and production would be the second largest on record, trailing only 2004, USDA said. U.S. soybean production is forecast at 3.09 billion bushels, up 6 percent from the August forecast and up slightly from the 2005 crop. If realized, this would be the second highest production on record, USDA said. Based on Sept. 1 conditions, USDA said soybean yields are expected to average 41.8 bu/a, up 2.2 bushels from August, but down 1.5 bushels from last year’s record high yield. USDA estimated the 2006 U.S. cotton crop at 20.3 million 480-pound bales, down slightly from last month and down 15 percent from last year’s record high production. Cotton yields are expected to average 762 pounds/acre, down 3 pounds from last month and down 69 pounds from last year.