September 12, 2007

Missouri Corn Crop Sets New Production Record

Columbia, MO - “Missouri farmers have responded to the demand for more corn production” said Gene Danekas, Director, Missouri Agricultural Statistics. “Despite a difficult year, we are on track to produce a record crop.”

Corn production in Missouri is forecast at 473 million bushels, 10 million bushels above the August 1 forecast and a new record high. If realized, this production would be 30 percent above last year’s crop and 1 percent above the previous record 2004 crop. The expected yield of 140 bushels per acre is 2 bushels above the 2006 yield but 22 bushels below the record yield set in 2004. Farmers are expecting to harvest 3.38 million acres of the 3.50 million planted acres, 29 percent more than last year and the largest acreage since 1960.

Missouri soybean production is forecast at 165 million bushels, unchanged from the August 1 forecast. This production is 15 percent below 2006 and 26 percent less than the record high production of 2004. If realized, the forecast yield of 37 bushels per acre would be 1 bushel per acre below last year’s yield and the same as 2005. Harvested acres, at 4.45 million, are down 13 percent from last year and the smallest acreage since 1996.

Grain sorghum production in Missouri is forecast at 9.31 million bushels, unchanged from the August 1 forecast and 15 percent above the 2006 production. The expected yield of 98 bushels per acre is 13 bushels above last year and, while 10 bushels below the 2004 record, the second highest yield on record. Of the 100,000 planted acres, 95,000 acres are expected to be harvested for grain.

Cotton production in Missouri is forecast at 750 thousand bales, down 30 thousand bales from the August 1 forecast and 24 percent below last year’s record production. The yield is forecast to be 925 pounds per acre, 28 pounds below 2006. Producers plan to harvest 389 thousand acres out of the 390 thousand acres planted, 9 thousand acres below the August 1 harvested acres estimate and 10 thousand acres below the planted August 1 estimate. Rice production in Missouri is forecast at 12.1 million cwt., down 1.56 million cwt. from the August 1 forecast and 12 percent below last year. Harvested acres are forecast at 178 thousand acres, down 26 thousand acres from the August 1 forecast and 17 percent below the 2006 record acreage. A yield of 6,800 pounds per acre is expected, 100 pounds per acre above the August forecast and 400 pounds above last year. If realized this yield would tie the record high yield set in 2004.

Summer potato production is forecast at 2.04 million cwt., 15 percent below last year but 5 percent above the previous forecast. Yield is forecast at 305 cwt. per acre, 20 cwt. above the July forecast but 35 cwt. below the record yield of 2005.

United States Corn Crop Highest On Record

Corn production is forecast at 13.3 billion bushels, up 2 percent from last month and 26 percent above 2006. Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 155.8 bushels per acre, up 3.0 bushels from August and 6.7 bushels above last year. If realized, this would be the second highest yield on record, behind the 160.4 bushel yield in 2004. Production would be the largest on record as growers expect to harvest the most corn acres for grain since 1933.

Soybean production is forecast at 2.62 billion bushels, down slightly from the August forecast and down 18 percent from last year's record high. Based on September 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 41.4 bushels per acre, down 0.1 bushel from last month and down 1.3 bushels from last year.

All Cotton production is forecast at 17.8 million 480-pound bales, up 3 percent from last month but down 17 percent from last year's 21.6 million bales. Yield is expected to average 811 pounds per harvested acre, up 28 pounds from last month but down 3 pounds from 2006. Harvested area is expected to total 10.5 million acres of all cotton, down 1 percent from last month and down 17 percent from last year. Upland cotton production is forecast at 17.0 million 480-pound bales, up 3 percent from last month but down 18 percent from last year.