October 12, 2007

Missouri Corn Production Below Last Month As Acreage Decreases

Columbia, MO - "While corn yield was unchanged, the forecast of Missouri’s corn harvested acres decreased from September thus lowering the production estimate," says Gene Danekas, Director, Missouri Agricultural Statistics. "Soybean and grain sorghum acreages are forecast higher than last month.”

Corn production in Missouri is forecast at 455 million bushels, down 4 percent from the September forecast but 25 percent above last year's production. The production decline is the result of a reduction in estimated harvested acreage to 3.25 million acres for grain, down 130,000 acres from September. Planted acres were also revised downward by 100,000 acres. The forecast yield of 140 bushels is unchanged from the September forecast but 2 bushels above the 2006 yield.

Missouri soybean production is forecast at 168 million bushels based on October 1 conditions, up 2 percent from a month ago but 13 percent below 2006 production. The change in production resulted from an upward change of 100,000 acres from the September forecast acreage to 4.60 million planted acres and 4.55 million harvested acres. A State yield of 37 bushels per acre is expected for this year, unchanged from September but 1 bushel below last year's yield.

Missouri grain sorghum production is forecast at 10.8 million bushels, up 16 percent from the September forecast and 34 percent above last year. Planted and harvested acres were both revised up by 10,000 acres. A yield of 103 bushels per acre is forecast, 5 bushels above last month’s yield and 18 bushels above the 2006 yield.

Cotton production in Missouri is forecast at 780,000 bales, 4 percent above the September 1 forecast but 21 percent below the 2006 production. The projected yield of 962 pounds is 37 pounds more than a month earlier and 9 pounds above last year's yield.

Rice production in the State is expected to total 12.1 million cwt, unchanged from September but 12 percent less than 2006. A yield of 6,800 pounds per acre is forecast, also unchanged from a month earlier but 400 pounds more than the 2006 yield.

Missouri pecan production, severely hampered by the cold weather in April, is forecast at only 5,000 pounds compared with 1.10 million pounds in 2006.

The production of all hay in Missouri is expected to total 7.2 million tons, 4 percent above last year. The forecast yield of 1.71 tons per acre is up slightly from the 2006 yield of 1.68 tons.

U.S. Corn Production Up From September, Soybean Production Down Slightly

Corn production in the U. S. is forecast at 13.3 billion bushels, up slightly from last month and 26 percent above 2006. Based on conditions as of October 1, yields are expected to average 154.7 bushels per acre, down 1.1 bushels from September but 5.6 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.

U. S. soybean production is forecast at 2.60 billion bushels, down less than 1 percent from the September forecast and down 19 percent from last year's record high. Based on October 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 41.4 bushels per acre, unchanged from last month but down 1.3 bushels from last year.

Grain sorghum production in the U. S. is forecast at 501 million bushels, up 1 percent from last month and up 81 percent from last year.

All cotton production in the U. S. is forecast at 18.2 million 480-pound bales, up 2 percent from last month but down 16 percent from last year's 21.6 million bales. Yield is expected to average 826 pounds per harvested acre, up 15 pounds from last month and up 12 pounds from 2006. If realized, the yield will be the third largest on record. Harvested area of all cotton is expected to total 10.5 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 17 percent from last year. Upland cotton production is forecast at 17.4 million 480-pound bales, up 2 percent from last month but down 17 percent from last year.

U. S. rice production is forecast at 197 million cwt, up 3 percent from the September forecast and up 2 percent from last year. Area for harvest is expected to total 2.73 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 3 percent from last year. As of October 1, the U.S. yield is forecast at 7,215 pounds per acre, up 191 pounds per acre from last month and up 347 pounds from last year. If realized, this will surpass the previous record high yield of 6,988 pounds per acre set in 2004.