Modest Dip in U.S. Corn Estimate

WASHINGTON - Nov 9/07 - SNS -- Corn production is forecast at 13.2 billion bushels, down 1% from last month but 25% above 2006. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 153.0 bushels per acre, down 1.7 bushels from October but 3.9 bushels above last year, according to the USDA.

If realized, this yield would be the second highest on record, behind 2004. Production would be the largest on record as producers expect to harvest the most corn acres for grain since 1933. Forecast yields are lower than last month across the northern and western Corn Belt and adjacent areas of the Great Plains where actual harvest results are revealing that the impact of the hot, dry conditions during pollination was worse than initially expected. Producers in the Ohio Valley, Tennessee Valley, and mid-Atlantic States reported higher yields than last month.

Area harvested and to be harvested for grain is forecast at 86.1 million acres, unchanged from October but up 22% from 2006. If realized, this would be the most corn acres harvested for grain since 1933.

The November 1 corn objective yield data indicate the highest number of ears per acre on record for the combined 10 objective yield States (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin), surpassing the previous record set in 2004. Indicated ears per acre are higher than last year in all objective yield States, with record highs being set in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here