Estimated Corn Yields Slip

WASHINGTON - Nov 10/09 - SNS -- U.S. corn production is forecast at 12.9 billion bushels, down 1% from last month but 7% higher than 2008, according to the latest crop production estimates from the USDA.

Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 162.9 bushels per acre, down 1.3 bushels from October but 9.0 bushels above last year. Despite the drop in yield from October, this yield will be the highest on record if realized. Total production will be second highest on record, only behind 2007. Within the Corn Belt, forecasted yields in Minnesota and Wisconsin increased, while Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan yields decreased.

Area harvested and to be harvested for grain is forecast at 79.3 million acres, unchanged from October but up 1% from 2008. If realized, area harvested for grain will be the second largest on record since 1944, behind only the 86.5 million acres harvested in 2007.

The November 1 corn objective yield data indicate a record high number of ears per acre for the combined 10 objective yield States (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin). All objective yield States, except Missouri, recorded record high ear counts.

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