October 14, 2011

Nebraska's corn output to be 1.52 billion bushels

Although heavy weekend rains delayed harvest, Nebraska's corn crop based on October 1's conditions, is estimated at 1.52 billion bushels, according to the USDA on Wednesday (Oct 12).

According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office, the October 1's conditions are down 2% from last month, but up 3% from last year. Yield is forecast at 160 bushels per acre, unchanged from last month but six bushels below last year. Harvested acreage was reduced by 150,000 acres to 9.5 million, but still 7% above a year ago.

Nationwide, the USDA reports that corn production is forecast at 12.4 billion bushels, down 1% from the September forecast and down slightly from the 2010 production estimate. If realised, this will be the fourth largest production total on record for the US, according to the USDA.

Based on conditions as of October 1, the USDA report said yields are expected to average 148.1 bushels per acre, unchanged from the September forecast but down 4.7 bushels from 2010. If realised, this will be the lowest average yield since 2005, according to the USDA.

As weather problems shaped this year's crop nationwide, Nebraska's corn crop was rated, as of the week ending October 9, as 74% good or excellent. For the top 18 corn growing states, the USDA rated the crop 53% good or excellent.

In Nebraska, 78% of the irrigated corn was rated either good or excellent, and dryland corn was rated 68% good or excellent. Corn maturity was at 88%, ahead of the five year average of 85%. Nineteen percent of the crop has been harvested compared with the five year average of 20%.

State soy production is forecast at 262 million bushels, up 1% from September but down 2% from last year's record high. Yield is forecast at 54 bushels per acre, down one bushel from last month but still second highest of record behind 2009. Area for harvest was increased 150,000 acres to 4.85 million, down 5% from 2010.

Soy harvest was 63% complete compared to the five year average of 49%.