By Andi Anderson
According to the USDA’s latest Crop Production report, corn production is expected to drop slightly, while soybean and cotton yields are forecasted to rise in 2024.
The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) projects corn production will fall by 1% from 2023, reaching an estimated 15.2 billion bushels. Meanwhile, soybean production is anticipated to increase by 10% to 4.59 billion bushels, and cotton production is set to rise 20% to 14.5 million bales.
As is customary in September, the USDA reviewed acreage estimates for corn, soybeans, and cotton based on certified data from the Farm Service Agency.
The planted area for corn remains at 90.7 million acres, unchanged from previous estimates, while soybean acreage is estimated at 87.1 million acres. Cotton acreage has increased slightly to 11.2 million acres.
Corn yields are forecast at 183.6 bushels per acre, an increase of 0.5 bushels from the previous month and 6.3 bushels from last year. Several states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska, are expected to achieve record high yields. However, the harvested area for corn, at 82.7 million acres, is down 4% from 2023.
Soybean yields are forecast to average 53.2 bushels per acre, up 2.6 bushels from last year, with record high yields expected in several states. The area for soybean harvest is projected at 86.3 million acres, up 5% from last year.
Cotton production is also expected to increase, with the harvested area forecast at 8.63 million acres. However, the yield per acre, at 807 pounds, is down from last month’s estimate.
The USDA’s findings are based on surveys conducted with over 6,900 producers, ensuring accurate projections for the 2024 harvest season.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Indiana, Harvesting