Small Town News

Farmers on track for record harvest

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U.S. farmers are on pace to produce the largest corn and soybean crops in history, according to the Crop Production report released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Corn production is forecast at 13.4 billion bushels and soybean production at 3.43 billion bushels, both up 2 percent from the previous records set in 2009. Based on conditions as of August 1, corn yields are expected to average a record-high 165 bushels per acre, up 0.3 bushel from last year's previous record. Soybean yields are expected to equal last year's record of 44 bushels per acre.

Cotton production is expected to jump 52 percent from last year, to 18.5 million 480-pound bales. Average yield is forecast at 837 pounds per harvested acre, up 60 pounds from last year.

The August Crop Production report contains USDA's first survey-based estimates of yield and production for corn, soybeans and other spring-planted row crops. Between July 25 and August 6, NASS surveyed approximately 27, 000 producers and also took objective field measurements in the major crop-producing states. Crop Production is published monthly and is available online at http://www.nass.usda.gov.



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© 2011 Lafayette Nicollet Ledger Lafayette, Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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