Corn Production Up Less Than 1 Percent from August Forecast
Soybean Production Down 3 Percent
Cotton Production Down 1 Percent
Corn production is forecast at 13.8 billion bushels, up less than 1 percent from the August forecast and up 28 percent from 2012. If realized, this will be a new record production for the United States. Based on conditions as of September 1, yield are expected to average 155.3 bushels per acre, up 0.9 bushels from the August forecast and 31.9 bushels above the 2012 average. If realized, this will be the highest average yield since 2009. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 89.1 million acres, unchanged from the August forecast but up 2 percent from 2012.
Soybean production is forecast at 3.15 billion bushels, down 3 percent from August but up 4 percent from last year. If realized, production will be the fourth largest on record. Based on September 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 41.2 bushels per acre, down 1.4 bushels from last month but up 1.6 bushels from last year. Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at 76.4 million acres, unchanged from August but up slightly from 2012.
All cotton production is forecast at 12.9 million 480-pound bales, down 1 percent from last month and down 26 percent from last year. Yield is expected to average 796 pounds per harvested acre, down 91 pounds from last year. Upland cotton production is forecast at 12.3 million 480-pound bales, down 26 percent from 2012. Pima cotton production, forecast at 625,500 bales, is down 20 percent from last year. Producers expect to harvest 7.78 million acres of all cotton, down 17 percent from 2012. This harvested total includes 7.58 million acres of Upland cotton and 198,800 acres of Pima cotton.
California Navel orange production for the 2013-2014 season is forecast at 1.76 million tons (44 million boxes), down 2 percent from last season. Producers reported good growing conditions this year. The average fruit size is up while average fruit per tree is down when compared to previous seasons. This initial forecast is based on an objective measurement survey conducted in California's Central Valley during July and August. Survey results also showed that harvest is expected to be earlier than the previous seasons.
Source: USDA