INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — After a slow start to the planting season, Hoosier crops had favorable growing conditions this summer and this should lead to outstanding corn and soybean yields, according to Greg Preston, director of the Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service.

Preston joined other state and Purdue University experts at a crop briefing at the Indiana State Fair Friday, which coincided with the release of the USDA’s August crop production report.

“Early in the season, Indiana had one of the lowest corn condition ratings in the Midwest because early rains left soils saturated,” Preston said. “This also caused soybean planting to fall behind.”

However, hot weather and timely rains across most of the state this summer helped crops grow, leading to the expectation of near record yields at harvest.

“Right now, Indiana has the highest expected yield for soybeans, even above Illinois and Iowa,” said Preston.

He said that Indiana’s corn production is expected to be at 893.5 million bushels, with an average yield of 167 bushels per acre. The state’s soybean crop forecast is at 278.3 million bushels, up 6 percent from last year. The average soybean yield is expected to be 49 bushels per acre, the same as last year’s.

Preston added that there has been low bug pressure in the state’s fields this year and not many reports of disease.

The USDA calculated national corn production at 11 billion bushels, down slightly from last year. Based on conditions as of August 1, the average corn yield is expected to be 152.2 bushels per acre, up 4.3 bushels from last year. U.S. soybean production also is expected to be down from 2005, at 2.93 billion bushels and an average yield of 39.6 bushels per acre.

Other state forecasts

After last year’s drought-reduced yields, Illinois producers received good news with the state’s August crop report saying that the 2006 corn crop is expected to yield 172 bushels per acre, up 29 bushels per acre from last year.

This would be the second highest yield on record behind the 180-bushel yield in 2004. Production of corn for grain would be 1.97 billion bushels, 15 percent more than produced in 2005. The 2006 Illinois soybean production forecast is 452 million bushels, 2 percent above last year’s production.

Yield is estimated at 45 bushels per acre, two bushels below last year.

The Ohio Agricultural Statistics Service reported Friday that Ohio’s average corn yield is forecast at 160 bushels per acre, two bushels more than the record yields in 2004. Total corn production is expected to reach 488 million bushels, 5 percent more than last year. The state’s soybean yield is expected to be identical to the 2005 average yield of 45 bushels per acre. If realized, Ohio’s total soybean production would be 197.1 million bushels, down 2 percent from last year.

An increase in expected yield per acre led USDA to predict the third largest corn crop on record in Kentucky at 166.5 million bushels, up 7 percent from the 2005 crop. Yield was estimated at 150 bushels per acre.

Kentucky could also have a record soybean crop with the largest acreage for harvest since 1984 and an estimated average yield of 45 bushels per acre, two bushels up from last year. Production was forecast at 62.1 million bushels, up 16 percent from the 2005 crop.