January 14, 2008

US corn yields up by 24 percent in 2007

The total corn output in 2007 reached a record 13.1 billion bushels, gaining a 24-percent increase from 2006, the USDA said on January 11, 2008.

The 2007 harvest is the second highest on record, next to the figures in 2004.

The record corn acreage directly affected 2007 US soy production, which USDA estimated at 2.59 billion bushels, slightly weaker from the November forecast and 19 percent below the record-high production in 2006.

The average yield per acre was at 41.2 bushels, almost the same as the November forecast and 1.5 bushels below 2006 yields.

Harvested area is down 16 percent from 2006, to 62.8 million acres.