U.S. corn crop is a record 14.2 billion bushels

According to USDA’s January Crop Production estimate, the 2014-15 U.S. corn crop is still a record, at 14.2 billion bushels, even though it’s down 1 percent from the agency’s November forecast. It’s 3 percent higher than the 2013 crop.

Average U.S. corn yield is also a record, estimated at 171 bushels per acre by USDA. That’s down 2.4 bushels from the November forecast but 12.9 bushels above the 2013 average yield estimate of 158.1 bushels per acre. Area harvested for grain is estimated at 83.1 million acres, up slightly from the November forecast but down 5 percent from 2013.

Soybeans

Soybean production in 2014 totaled a record 3.97 billion bushels, up slightly from the November forecast and up 18 percent from 2013. The average yield per acre is estimated at a record 47.8 bushels, 0.3 bushel above the November forecast and 3.8 bushels above the 2013 yield. Harvested area is up 9 percent from 2013, to 83.1 million acres and is the highest on record.

Cotton

U.S. cotton production is estimated at 16.1 million bales, up 1 percent from last month and up 25 percent from 2013. U.S. yield is estimated at 795 pounds per acre, up 22 pounds from the December forecast but down 26 pounds from last year. Harvested area, at 9.71 million acres, is down 2 percent from last month but up 29 percent from last year.

Rice

U.S. rice production in 2014 is estimated at 221 million hundredweight, down slightly from the previous forecast but up 16 percent from 2013. Planted area for 2014 is estimated at 2.94 million acres, up 18 percent from 2013. Area harvested, at 2.92 million acres, is also up 18 percent from the previous crop year. The average yield for all United States rice is estimated at 7,572 pounds per acre, down 25 pounds from the previous forecast and 122 pounds below the 2013 United States average of 7,694 pounds per acre.

Grain sorghum

U.S. grain sorghum production in 2014 is estimated at 433 million bushels, up 6 percent from the November forecast and up 11 percent from 2013. Planted area is estimated at 7.14 million acres, down 11 percent from last year’s revised planted acres. Area harvested for grain, at 6.40 million acres, is down 2 percent from 2013. Average grain yield, at 67.6 bushels per acre, is up 1.5 bushels from the previous forecast and up 8.0 bushels from last year.

Source: http://deltafarmpress.com/government/us-corn-crop-record-142-billion-bushels?NL=DFP-01&Issue=DFP-01_20150114_DFP-01_951&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_2&YM_RID=CPG02000000722554&YM_MID=2089