Corn, bean production down in report
In Thursday’s USDA report, corn production was down less than a percent from the September forecast while soybean production was lowered two percent.
Corn for grain is forecast at 13.8 billion bushels, down four percent from last year. Yields are expected to average 168.4 bushels per harvested acre, up 0.2 bushel from the previous forecast but down 8 bushels from 2018. Harvested area is at 81.8 million acres down less than a percent from the previous forecast but up slightly from 2018.
Soybean production is forecast at 3.55 billion bushels, down two percent from the previous forecast and 20 percent from last year. Yields are expected to average 46.9 bushels per acre, down a bushel from the previous forecast and 3.7 bushels from 2018. Area harvested is forecast at 75.6 million acres, down less than a percent from the previous forecast.
Illinois Crop Production:
Corn: Planted area is estimated at 10.50 million acres, down 5 percent from last year. Harvested area, forecast at 10.25 million acres, is down 6 percent from 2018. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois corn yield is forecast at 179 bushels per acre, down 1 bushel from last month and down 31 bushels from 2018. Production is forecast at 1.83 billion bushels, down 19 percent from last year’s production.
Soybeans: Planted area is estimated at 10.0 million acres, down 7 percent from last year. Harvested area, forecast at 9.94 million acres, is down 5 percent from 2018. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois soybean yield is forecast at 51 bushels per acre, down 12.5 bushels from 2018. Production is forecast at 507 million bushels, down 24 percent from 2018.
Alfalfa hay: Harvested area, forecast at 240,000 acres, is down 4 percent from 2018. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois alfalfa hay yield is forecast at 3.60 tons per acre, up 0.30 ton from the previous year. Production is forecast at 864,000 tons, 5 percent above 2018.
Other hay: Harvested area, forecast at 230,000 acres, is up 5 percent from 2018. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois other hay yield is forecast at 2.20 tons per acre, unchanged from the previous year. Production is estimated at 506,000 tons, 5 percent above 2018.
