USDA Crop Production report forecasts record corn & soybean production

By Agri-Pulse Staff

© Copyright Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.

Washington, Sept. 10 – U.S. 2010 corn production was forecast at 13.2 billion bushels, down 2% from the13.3 billion bushels forecast in August but up slightly from 13.1 billion bushels in 2009, according to USDA’s crop production report released today.

Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 162.5 bushels per acre, down 2.5 bushels from the previous month and 2.2 bushels below last year's record of 164.7 bushels.

Soybean production was forecast at a record high 3.48 billion bushels, up 1% from 3.43 billion bushels forecast in August and up 4% from 3.35 billion bushels last year. Based on September 1 conditions, yields are expected to average a record high 44.7 bushels per acre, up 0.7 bushel from both last month and last year. If realized, both corn and soybean production would represent record highs.

The 2010 rice crop was forecast at 255,319,000 cwts, up 4% from 245,882,000 cwts forecast in August and up 16% from 219,850,000 cwts in 2009.

Sorghum production in 2010 was forecast at 376,469,000 bushels, down 2% from 383,435,000 bushels in August and from 382,983,000 bushels in 2009.

All cotton production is forecast at 18.8 million 480-pound bales, up 2 percent from last month and up 55 percent from last year's 12.2 million bales. Yield is expected to average 839 pounds per harvested acre, up 62 pounds from last year.

Upland cotton production is forecast at 18.3 million 480-pound bales, 56 percent above 2009. Yields in the Delta region are expected to decrease from last month, while producers in Texas are expecting increased yields. American Pima production, forecast at 497,800 bales, was carried forward from last month.

Wheat production data were not updated from August but will be revised in the Sept. 30 Small Grains Summary.

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