Minnesota expecting record corn crop

Aug 12, 2009      Pioneer Press

Aug. 12, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Minnesota's 2009 corn crop is shaping up as the largest in state history.

In the season's first official estimate, the U.S. Department of Agriculture today forecast a 1.2 billion-bushel corn crop in Minnesota, surpassing the existing record set in 2005. Corn yields were forecast at 167 bushels an acre, second-best behind 2005's record state yield of 174 bushels an acre.

Minnesota's soybean crop was predicted to average 40 bushels an acre, up from last year's 38-bushel average, but below the 2005 state record. Production was estimated at 284 million bushels, not a record but up nearly 7 percent from last year.

The forecast was based on crop conditions on Aug. 1, and a lot can happen before the combines start to roll in September. In recent weeks, there's been concern about drought, slow development of the crop, and whether it would be more vulnerable to an early freeze. But there's also been a return to warmer weather and widespread rainfall, too.

The USDA also forecast that small-grain yields in Minnesota would decline from last year.

The average spring wheat yield is now predicted at 51 bushels an acre, down from an average of 56 bushels last year. Minnesota spring wheat production was estimated at 86.7 million bushels, compared with 100 million bushels last year.

Barley yields were forecast at 57 bushels an acre this year, compared with 65 bushels last year. Oat yields were predicted to be 65 bushels an acre in 2009, down from 68 bushels an acre in

2008.

Nationally, corn yields are forecast at 159.5 bushels an acre, and total U.S. production is forecast at 12.7 billion bushels. Both corn figures represent an increase from last year, although neither is a record.

U.S. soybean yield was forecast at 41.7 bushels an acre, and record production of 3.2 billion bushels.

Tom Webb can be reached at 651-228-5428.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0190-37178486

Return to full Washington Letter