October 13, 2009
Georgia's forecasted corn yield down, soy unchanged
Based on a survey of Georgia growers contacted around October 1, corn yields were down slightly from September, while soy yields remained the same as last month.
Corn yield for 2009 is expected to average 140 bushels per harvested acre, three bushels below last month, and the same as last year's record yield.
Harvesting conditions were slowed by wetter than normal conditions, according to the state USDA-NASS Field Office.
Irrigation was active this summer. Total corn production is expected to total 49 million bushels from 350,000 acres harvested for grain.
Production of this size would be 13-percent more than last year. By the end of the first week of October, harvest of corn for grain was 95 percent complete compared with the five-year average of 94 percent.
Soy yields in Georgia are forecast at 34 bushels per acre, the same as last month, and three bushels more than last year. If this yield is realised, it will tie the state record. Harvested acres are estimated to be 450,000 acres, down 30,000 acres from last month.
Production is projected to be 15.3 million bushels, up 19 percent from last year's production. By the end of the first week of October, harvesting was just getting underway.
