Corn production down 2 percent from August forecast

Corn production is forecast at a record 13.2 billion bushels, down 2% from the August forecast, but up from the previous record of 13.1 billion bushels set in 2009, according to the USDA's latest crop production report.
Based on conditions as of Sept. 1, yields are expected to average 162.5 bushels per acre, down 2.5 bushels from the previous month and 2.2 bushels below last year’s record of 164.7 bushels. Forecasted yields decreased from last month throughout much of the corn belt, Tennessee Valley and Delta. Yields were up from August in the lower portions of the Southeast.
Soybean production is forecast at a record high 3.48 billion bushels, up 1% from August and 4% above last year. Based on Sept. 1 conditions, yields are expected to average a record high 44.7 bushels per acre, up 0.7 bushel from both last month and last year.
Compared with last month, yields are forecast higher or unchanged across the central and northern corn belt, with the exception of Michigan. The largest increases in yield from last month are expected in Maryland and Virginia, both up four bushels. With the exceptions of Louisiana and the Carolinas, yields are forecast down across the Delta states, southern Great Plains and Southeast. The largest decline from the Aug. 1 forecast is expected in Oklahoma, down seven bushels as drought conditions across much of the state hampered yield expectations. If realized, the forecasted yield in Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York and North Dakota will be a record high.
Area for harvest in the U.S. is forecast at 78 million acres, unchanged from June, but up 2% from 2009.