News Release

Corn for grain production totaled 539.5 million bushels, up 4 percent from the November forecast and up 26 percent from 2003 and was a new record high. Yield, at 130 bushels per acre, is up 3 bushels from November and up 19 bushels from last year. The 2004 corn yield and production set record highs, beating the previous records from 1998 of 121 bushel yield and 429.6 million bushels produced. Producers harvested 4.15 million acres for grain for 2004, up 8 percent from 2003. Planted acres, at 4.65 million, were up 6 percent from 2003.

Soybean production in 2004 totaled 140.1 million bushels, up 1 percent from the November forecast and 21 percent above last year's production. The average yield was 34 bushels per acre, up 6.5 bushels from last year. Harvested acres, at 4.12 million, were down 2 percent from 2003. Planted acres were also down 2 percent from 2003 at 4.15 million.

All hay production is estimated at 6.9 million tons, down 5 percent from 2003. The average yield was 1.76 tons per acre, up from 1.68 in 2003. Acres harvested were down 400,000 from 2003, to 3.9 million. Alfalfa production, at 4.73 million tons, was down 8 percent from 2003 and represented 69 percent of the total. It had an average yield of 2.1 tons per acre, compared to 1.9 tons per acre in 2003. Harvested acres were down 450,000 acres from last year, to 2.25 million. All other hay production totaled 2.145 million tons, up 3 percent from last year, and had and average yield of 1.3 tons per acre. Harvested acres at 1.65 million, were up 50,000 from last year .

New seedings of alfalfa in 2004 totaled 200,000 acres in South Dakota, down 13 percent from 2003. Newly seeded acres are normally harvested for dry hay for the first time the following year.

Sorghum for grain production in 2004 totaled 6.3 million bushels, down 14 percent from the November forecast and 7 percent from 2003. Average yield, at 42 bushels per acre, was 3 bushels below last year. Harvested acres, at 150,000, were unchanged from 2003. Planted acres, at 250,000, were down 7 percent from last year.

All sunflower production in 2004 totaled 606.7 million pounds, 33 percent above last year. Average yield, at 1,462 pounds per acre, was up 457 pounds from last year. Planted and harvested acres totaled 435,000 and 415,000, respectively. Oil sunflower production, at 575.2 million pounds, represented 95 percent of the total. It had a yield of 1,460 pounds per acre with 394,000 acres harvested. Non-oil sunflower production totaled 31.5 million pounds and had a yield of 1,500 pounds per acre from 21,000 acres harvested.

Proso millet grain production in 2004 totaled 3.8 million bushels, up 34 percent from 2003. Average yield of 29 bushels per acre was 12 bushels above a year earlier. Harvested acres, at 130,000, were down 21 percent. Acres planted, at 180,000, were down 14 percent from 2003.