U.S. Soybean Crop Expected to be a Record

(Wisconsin Ag Connection) –  Soybean production is forecast at a record 4.43 billion bushels, down slightly from September, but up 3 percent from last year.

Based on October 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 49.5 bushels per acre, down 0.4 bushel from last month and down 2.5 bushels from last year.

Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at a record high 89.5 million acres, up 1 percent from September and up 8 percent from 2016.

Corn production is forecast at 14.3 billion bushels, down 6 percent from last year, but up 1 percent from the September forecast.

Based on conditions as of October 1, yields are expected to average 171.8 bushels per acre, up 1.9 bushels from the September forecast but down 2.8 bushels from 2016. If realized, this will be the second highest yield and production on record for the United States.

Area harvested for grain is forecast at 83.1 million acres, down less than 1 percent from the previous estimate and down 4 percent from 2016. Acreage updates were made in several States based on a thorough review of all available data.