USDA Crop Production Report Indicates Record Yields

 

The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture crop production report indicates that the 2016 area harvested for corn is forecast at 86.6 million acres, unchanged from August but up 7 percent from last year. The September 1 corn objective yield data indicate the third highest number of ears on record for the combined 10 objective yield states. At 15.1 billion bushels, 2016 corn production is forecast to be the highest production on record for the United States. Grain sorghum production is forecast at 488 million bushels, up 3 percent from last month but down 18 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 6.46 million acres, unchanged from August 1 but down 18 percent from 2015. Based on September 1 conditions, yield is forecast at a 75.7 bushels per acre, up 2.2 bushels from last month but down 0.3 bushels from last year. If realized, this will be the second highest yield on record for the United States.