U.S. corn crop maintains its record pace

U.S. corn producers are expected to produce the largest U.S. corn crop ever this fall, according to USDA’s Aug. 12 Crop Production report. Corn production is forecast at 13.8 billion bushels, up 28 percent from 2012, which if realized would be a new record production for the United States.

Based on conditions as of early August, yields are expected to average 154.4 bushels per acre, up 31 bushels from 2012. 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 June acreage forecast but up 2 percent from 2012.

Soybean production is forecast at 3.26 billion bushels, up 8 percent from last year. If realized, production will be the third largest on record.

Yields are expected to average 42.6 bushels per acre, up 3 bushels from last year. If realized, the average yield will be the fifth highest on record.

Area for harvest is forecast at 76.4 million acres, down less than 1 percent from June but up slightly from 2012. Planted area is estimated at 77.2 million acres, down less than 1 percent from June.
 
Cotton production is forecast at 13.1 million bales, down 25 percent from last year. Yield is expected to average 813 pounds per harvested acre, down 74 pounds from last year.

Upland cotton production is forecast at 12.5 million bales, down 25 percent from 2012. Pima cotton production, forecast at 579,800 bales, is down 26 percent from last year.

Producers expect to harvest 7.7 million acres of cotton, down 18 percent from 2012. This harvested total includes 7.52 million acres of upland cotton and 183,800 acres of Pima.
 
Wheat production, at 2.11 billion bushels, is up slightly from the July forecast but down 7 percent from 2012. U.S. yield is forecast at 46.2 bushels per acre, unchanged from last month but down 0.1 bushel from last year.

Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.54 billion bushels, down slightly from last month’s forecast and down 6 percent from 2012.

The area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 32.3 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 7 percent from last year.