Smaller Sweet Corn Crop

WASHINGTON - Sep 6/07 - SNS -- Contracted sweet corn production is forecast at 2.88 million tons for the United States, down 7% from last year, according to the USDA. A decline of 5% in contracted harvested area is accompanied by a decline in yield of 0.17 tons per acre from 2006.

In Minnesota, cold and wet conditions slowed planting in early April. Above normal temperatures in late April and early May allowed planting to progress rapidly. As of June 3rd, planting was 78% complete, compared with 64% for the five-year average. In Washington, conditions have been mostly hot and dry throughout the summer. Water supplies are adequate and harvest is progressing well. The crop is reported to be mostly average to above average.

Wisconsin's season began with hot and dry weather. By August, heavy rainfall hampered harvest. Oregon experienced unseasonably hot weather in the middle of July, followed by unusually cool weather through the middle of August. Despite torrential rains in the central and eastern sections of New York, yields are better than last year. Weather conditions in Maryland have been very dry during the summer growing season.

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