The Crop Production report issued Wednesday by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) forecasted soybean and corn production up from 2019. Soybean production is up 25% from last year, forecast at 4.42 billion bushels; corn growers are expected to increase their production 12% from 2019, forecast at a record high 15.3 billion bushels.
Average corn yield is forecast at a record high 181.8 bushels per acre, up 14.4 bushels from last year. NASS forecasts record-high yields in Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin. Acres planted to corn, at 92.0 million, are up 3% from 2019. As of August 2, 72% of this year’s corn crop was reported in good or excellent condition, 15 percentage points above the same time last year.
Area for soybean harvest is forecast at 83.0 million acres with planted area for the nation estimated at 83.8 million acres, up 10% from last year. Soybean yields are expected to average a record high 53.3 bushels per acre, up 5.9 bushels from 2019. If realized, the forecasted yields in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and South Dakota will also be record high.
The Crop Production report is published monthly and is available online at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications.
