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Record soybean crop in the making
August 12, 2009 -Despite all the talk of lower production, new estimates for the US soybean and corn crops are calling for record and near record levels, respectively.
August 13, 2009 By Delta Farm Press
August 12, 2009
Elton Robinson
A record US soybean crop is in the making, and US corn producers are on the way to producing the second largest crop on record, according to USDA’s Aug. 12 Crop Production report. USDA is also projecting a cotton crop up 3 percent in size from 2008.
The report was based on conditions as of August 1 and is the first survey-based report of the year.
Soybean production is forecast at a record high 3.2 billion bushels, up 8 percent from last year. Yields are expected to average 41.7 bushels per acre, up 2.1 bushels from 2008. If realized, this will tie for the fourth highest yield on record.
With the exception of Illinois, yields are forecast higher or unchanged from last year across the Corn Belt and Great Plains. The largest increase in yield is expected in Ohio, up 11 bushels from 2008. In contrast, yield prospects are forecast lower than last year in Alabama, New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at 76.8 million acres, up slightly from June and up three percent from 2008.
Corn production is forecast at 12.8 billion bushels, up five percent from last year, but two percent lower than 2007. Yields are expected to average 159.5 bushels per acre, up 5.6 bushels from last year. If realized, this will be the second highest yield on record, behind 2004, and production will be the second largest, behind 2007.
