Based on September 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2017 corn crop is forecast at a record 1.72 billion bushels, up 1% from last year's production, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Area harvested for grain, at 9.50 million acres, is down 1% from a year ago. Average yield is forecast at 181 bushels per acre, up 3 bushels from last year.
Nationally, corn production is forecast at 14.2 billion bushels, down 6% from last year but up less than 1% from the August forecast. Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 169.9 bushels per acre, up 0.4 bushel from the August forecast but down 4.7 bushels from 2016. If realized, this will be the third highest yield and production on record for the United States. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 83.5 million acres, unchanged from the August forecast but down 4% from 2016.
Soybean production is forecast at a record 316 million bushels, up 1% from last year. Area for harvest, at 5.65 million acres, is up 10% from 2016. Yield is forecast at 56 bushels per acre, down 5 bushels from a year ago.
Nationally, soybean production is forecast at a record 4.43 billion bushels, up 1% from August and up 3% from last year. Based on September 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 49.9 bushels per acre, up 0.5 bushel from last month but down 2.2 bushels from last year. Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at a record high 88.7 million acres, unchanged from August but up 7% from 2016.
Sorghum for grain production of 10.3 million bushels is down 42% from a year ago. Area for harvest, at 110,000 acres, is down 37% from 2016. Yield is forecast at 94 bushels per acre, down 8 bushels from last year.
Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.60 million tons, up 14% from 2016. Area for harvest, at 48,400 acres, is up 3% from last year. Record yield is forecast at 33.1 tons per acre, up 3.2 tons from a year ago.
Dry edible pea production is forecast at 728,000 cwt, up 4% from a year ago. Area for harvest, at 56,000 acres, is up 8% from 2016. Yield is forecast at 1,300 pounds per acre, down 40 pounds from last year.