January 18, 2010

Indiana 2009 corn output pegged at 934 million bushels

Corn production in US state of Indiana was pegged at 933.7 million bushels for 2009, down 47.3 million bushels from the 2007 record harvest, according to final estimates by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Indiana reaped a record average yield of 171 bushels per acre, up 11 bushels per acre from 2008 and up three bushels from the previous record in 2004.

A wet spring forced farmers to plant crops later than normal. When combined with cool summer temperatures, the growing periods became slower-than-normal which led to the expectations that yields would suffer in 2009. But that did not happen.

Purdue agronomy professor Bob Nielsen said it turns out that the cooler than normal July and August were more beneficial than detrimental. It led to less than normal heat stress on the corn and fewer than normal insect problems, among other benefits.

However, NASS statistician Kif Hurlbut warned that the numbers are not equivalent to quality. Cooler temperatures and moisture led to an increase in mouldy corn, and there are some quality issues with corn at various locations across the state. But there is no data to show how serious it was.

One of the types of mould that was prevalent this growing season can produce toxins that can cause health issues in animals that feed on it, Nielsen said.