Corn production is forecast at 10.8 billion bushels, down 13 percent from 2011 and the lowest production since 2006. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 123.4 bushels per acre, down 23.8 bushels from 2011. If realized, this will be the lowest average yield since 1995. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 87.4 million acres, down 2 percent from the June forecast but up 4 percent from 2011.
Soybean production is forecast at 2.69 billion bushels, down 12 percent from last year. Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 36.1 bushels per acre, down 5.4 bushels from last year. If realized, the average yield will be the lowest since 2003. Area for harvest is forecast at 74.6 million acres, down 1 percent from June but up 1 percent from 2011.
All cotton production is forecast at 17.7 million 480-pound bales, up 13 percent from last year. Yield is expected to average 784 pounds per harvested acre, down 6 pounds from last year. Upland cotton production is forecast at 17.0 million 480-pound bales, up 15 percent from 2011. Pima cotton production, forecast at 663,000 bales, is down 22 percent from last year. Producers expect to harvest 10.8 million acres of all cotton, up 14 percent from 2011. This harvested total includes 10.6 million acres of Upland cotton and 233,400 acres of Pima cotton.
All wheat production, at 2.27 billion bushels, is up 2 percent from the July forecast and up 13 percent from 2011. Based on August 1 conditions, the United States yield is forecast at 46.5 bushels per acre, up 0.9 bushel from last month and up 2.8 bushels from last year.
Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.68 billion bushels, up 1 percent from July and up 13 percent from 2011. Based on August 1 conditions, the United States yield is forecast at a record high 48.0 bushels per acre, up 0.3 bushel from last month and 1.8 bushels higher than last year. The area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 35.0 million acres, unchanged from last month but up 8 percent from last year.
Hard Red Winter, at 1.01 billion bushels, is up slightly from a month ago. Soft Red Winter production is up 1 percent from the previous forecast and now totals 435 million bushels. White Winter production totals 236 million bushels, up 2 percent from last month. Of this total, 13.9 million bushels are Hard White and 222 million bushels are Soft White.
Durum wheat production is forecast at 86.0 million bushels, up 5 percent from July and up 70 percent from 2011. The United States yield is forecast at 40.5 bushels per acre, up 1.9 bushels from last month and up 2.0 bushels from last year. Expected area to be harvested for grain totals 2.12 million acres, unchanged from last month, but up 62 percent from last year.
Other spring wheat production is forecast at 500 million bushels, up 6 percent from the July forecast and up 10 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain is expected to total 11.7 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 3 percent from last year. The United States yield is forecast at 42.8 bushels per acre, up 2.4 bushels from last month and 5.1 bushels above 2011. Of the total production, 463 million bushels are Hard Red Spring Wheat, up 6 percent from last month and up 16 percent from last year.
Download Crop Production report, released August 10, 2012, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). ISSN: 1936-3737 (PDF)
