Ia-press-releases January 12, 2005 ANNUAL CROP SUMMARY FOR 2004 IOWA: Corn for grain production during 2004 was estimated 2.24 billion bushels, is down less than one percent from the November 1 forecast, but is 20 percent more than 2003 and is a new state high. Iowa's producers averaged 181 bushels per acre, down 2 bushels from the November 1 forecast, but 15 percent more compared to last year's yield 157 bushels per acre. This yield is the highest on record, ahead of 2002's yield of 165. Acres harvested for grain increased 100,000 acres from the previous forecast to 12.4 million acres, 3 percent over 2003. Corn planted for all purposes in Iowa remains at 12.7 million acres, up 2 percent from 2003. Corn for silage production was estimated at 4.49 million tons, down 32 percent from 2003. The silage yield estimate of 19.5 per acre compares to 20.0 tons per acre in 2003. Producers harvested 230,000 acres of corn for silage, down 100,000 acres from 2003. Soybean production was estimated at 497 million bushels in 2004, unchanged from November 1 forecast, but up 45 percent from 2003 and is the 2nd highest production on record. Iowa's producers averaged 49 bushels per acre, unchanged from the November 1 forecast, but 16.5 bushels more than last year's yield of 32.5 bushels per acre. This is the highest yield since the 1994 record yield of 50.5 bushels per acre. The harvested acreage is unchanged from the previous forecast of 10.2 million acres, but is 4 percent less than the 2003 estimate. Planted acreage of soybeans was 10.2 million acres, also down 4 percent from 2003. All hay production for the state was estimated at 6.24 million tons, down 2 percent from the October 1 forecast, but up 13 percent from the 5.52 million tons produced in 2003. Producers averaged 3.90 tons per acre, setting a new state record all hay yield. The previous record was 3.75 tons per acre set in 1979. Harvested acres for hay was estimated at 1.60 million acres, unchanged from the previous year. Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures production was estimated at 5.46 million tons, up nearly 11 percent from 2003. Producers averaged 4.2 tons per acre, setting a new state record alfalfa hay yield, breaking the old record of 4.1 tons per acre set in 1979. Harvested acres decreased by 2 percent to 1.30 million acres compared to last year. Iowa producers seeded 170,000 acres of alfalfa in 2004, down from 180,000 acres the previous year. Other hay production was estimated at 780,000 tons, 31 percent above the previous year’s production. Producers averaged 2.60 tons per acre, up 18 percent from 2003; while harvesting 300,000 acres of other hay, up 30,000 acres from the previous year. UNITED STATES: Corn for grain production is estimated at 11.8 billion bushels, up less than 1 percent from the November forecast and up 17 percent from the 10.1 billion bushels produced in 2003. The average U.S. grain yield is estimated at 160.4 bushels per acre, 0.2 bushels above the November forecast and up 18.2 bushels from 2003. Both production and yield estimates are the largest on record. The previous record for both was set last year when production was estimated at 10.1 billion bushels and yield was 142.2 bushels per acre. Soybean production in 2004 totaled 3.14 billion bushels, the largest U.S. soybean crop in history. This is down slightly from the November forecast but 28 percent above the 2003 level. The average yield per acre is estimated at a record high 42.5 bushels, 0.1 bushel below the November forecast, but 8.6 bushels above the 2003 final yield. All hay production of dry hay for 2004 is estimated at 158 million tons, down 5 percent from the October 1 forecast but up fractionally from the 2003 total. Area harvested, at 61.9 million acres, is up less than 1 percent from the October forecast but down 2 percent from 2003. The average yield, at 2.55 tons per acre, is down 0.14 ton from October but up 0.06 ton from the previous year. IOWA - ACREAGE, YIELD AND PRODUCTION, 2003-04 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Acres Harvested | Yield per acre | Production Crop | 2003 2004 | 2003 2004 | 2003 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thousand acres Bushels Thousand bushels Corn, grain 11,900 12,400 157.0 181.0 1,868,300 2,244,400 Corn, silage 1/ 330 230 20.0 19.5 6,600 4,485 Soybeans 10,550 10,150 32.5 49.0 342,875 497,350 Oats for grain 130 140 83.0 72.0 10,790 10,080 Hay, all 1/ 1,600 1,600 3.45 3.90 5,515 6,240 Alfalfa hay 1/ 1,330 1,300 3.70 4.20 4,921 5,460 Other hay 1/ 270 300 2.20 2.60 594 780 Wheat, all 21 24 61.0 55.0 1,281 1,320 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Yield in tons and production in thousand tons. UNITED STATES - ACREAGE, YIELD AND PRODUCTION, 2003-04 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Acres Harvested | Yield per acre | Production Crop | 2003 2004 | 2003 2004 | 2003 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thousand acres Bushels Thousand bushels Corn, grain 70,944 73,632 142.2 160.4 10,089,222 11,807,217 Corn, silage 1/ 6,583 6,103 16.3 17.6 107,378 107,336 Soybeans 72,476 73,958 33.9 42.5 2,453,665 3,140,996 Oats for grain 2,220 1,792 65.0 64.7 144,383 115,935 Hay, all 1/ 63,383 61,916 2.49 2.55 157,585 157,774 Alfalfa hay 1/ 23,529 21,707 3.24 3.47 76,273 75,383 Other hay 1/ 39,854 40,209 2.04 2.05 81,312 82,391 Wheat, all 53,063 49,999 44.2 43.2 2,344,760 2,158,245 Winter wheat 36,753 34,462 46.7 43.5 1,716,721 1,499,434 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Yield in tons and production in thousand tons. IOWA AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 210 WALNUT STREET, ROOM 833 DES MOINES, IOWA 50309 1-800-772-0825 FAX 515-284-4342 nass-ia@nass.usda.gov To access NASS reports - http://www.usda.gov/nass/