July 5, 2012

US 2012 corn yield outlook down at 150.6 bushels per acre

US 2012 corn yield has been pegged at 150.6 bushels per acre, down from its previous forecast of 153.3 bushels by Cropcast, a division of MDA EarthSat Weather.

It projected domestic corn production at 13.179 billion bushels, down from its prior estimate of 13.503 billion.

The company, which specialises in agricultural weather forecasting, forecast the US soy yield at 40.0 bushels an acre, below its previous projection of 40.6 bushels, and pegged soy production at 2.962 billion bushels, below its previous 3.014 billion bushel outlook.

Cropcast meteorologist Don Keeney told the forum the estimated yield and production were based on a forecast for more dryness for at least the next two weeks, as well as more heat this week.

The USDA began the year with an outlook for the domestic corn yield at 166 bushels an acre, with production reaching a record 14.790 billion. USDA's initial outlook for soy was 43.9 bushels an acre, with production of 3.205 billion.

The farm agency has yet to change its yield or production forecasts, but was expected to do so in its August crop production report.

A long spell of high heat and dryness in the central US has been eating away at projections for this year's corn and soy crops.