By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C. — If projections hold, U.S. farmers will be busy this fall harvesting record corn and soybean crops, according to a production update released Friday by the USDA.

For corn, the projected average yield of 161.9 bushels per acre would be the highest on record, said the report, released by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The figure is 2.4 bushels per acre higher than the August report and eight bushels higher than 2008.

The report forecasts corn production at 13 billion bushels, which would make it the second largest crop on record behind 2007. The projection is 2 percent higher than last month, and 7 percent higher than last year.

Farmers are forecast to produce a record high 3.25 billion bushels of soybeans, which is up 1 percent from August and 10 percent from last year, according to the report. Soybeans are projected to average 42.3 bushels per acre, which would be the third highest yield on record. The yield forecast is up less than 1 bushel over last month and up 2.7 bushels from 2008.

Cool weather across the Plains and the Midwest lessened heat stress but slowed crop development, the report said. As of the first of the month, several states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Ohio, saw a record high number of corn stalks and ears per acre.
For soybeans, late planting this spring has led to slower than normal development, and lower pod counts for the nation’s 11 major soybean-producing states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Ohio.

The report shows the United States is capable of supplying necessary feed grains in this country and overseas, said Ken Hobbie, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council.

“U.S. agricultural production will become increasingly vital to feeding a hungry world as U.S. export competitors’ production drops due to poor weather conditions,” Hobbie said in a statement.

“We are proud of U.S. farmers for once again stepping up to the challenge of producing more coarse grains to satisfy all demands.”
Illinois is forecast to have a yield of 179 bushels per acre of corn, unchanged from last year. The projection of nearly 2.17 billion bushels is up slightly from last year’s 2.13 billion bushels. For soybeans, an average yield of 44 bushels per acre is projected, down from last year’s 47. Production is projected to be 398 million bushels, down from last year’s 427 million bushels.

Indiana farmers are projected to see an average of 163 bushels per acre of corn, up from last year’s 160. They are expected to produce 903 million bushels, up from last year’s 873 million. For soybeans, the state is expected to have an average of 43 bushels per acre, down from last year’s 45. Soybean production in the state is projected to be nearly 236 million bushels, down from last year’s 244 million.

In Iowa, farmers are projected to see an increase in average yield for corn from 171 bushels per acre last year to 187. Production is expected to be nearly 2.5 billion bushels, up from last year’s nearly 2.2 billion. For soybeans, the average yield is forecast at 52 bushels an acre, up from 46 last year. The state is expected to produce nearly 506 million bushels, up from last year’s 445 million.
Farmers in Kentucky are expected to see an average corn yield of 155 bushels per acre, up from last year’s 136. They’re expected to produce 175 million bushels, up from 152 million in 2008.
Soybeans are expected to average 42 bushels per acre, up from 34 bushels last year. The state is projected to produce about 60 million bushels, up from last year’s nearly 47 million.
In Michigan, the state’s farmers are expected to see a yield of 146 bushels per acre for corn, up from 138 last year. Farmers are projected to produce 305 million bushels, up from last year’s 295 million.

For soybeans, the average yield is forecast to be 38 bushels an acre, up 1 from 2008. The state is expected to produce nearly 76 million bushels, up from last year’s nearly 70 million.
Ohio farmers are forecast to see 165 bushels per acre of corn, up from 135 last year. Statewide production is expected to be 523 million bushels, up from last year’s 421 million. Soybean yields are expected to be 47 bushels per acre, up from last year’s 36.
Total production is forecast to be 215 million bushels, up from last year’s 161 million.

In Tennessee, average yields of 135 bushels per acre of corn are forecast, up from last year’s 118. Production is expected to be nearly 80 million bushels, up from last year’s 74 million. Average yields for soybeans are expected to be 40 bushels per acre, up from last year’s 34. The state is expected to produce 62 million bushels, up from last year’s nearly 50 million.