Record Crops Forecast

A new federal forecast says the Nebraska corn crop will be even bigger than the already expected record. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that, based on Sept. 1 conditions, the corn crop should hit 1.55 billion bushels – 11 percent higher than last year's 1.39 billion bushels. The Nebraska corn crop record was set in 2007 - 1.47 billion bushels. The USDA report issued Friday also says 9.15 million corn acres were planted in Nebraska, 7 percent more than a year ago. The yield is forecast at 169 bushels an acre, which would be 3 bushels higher than the 2004 record. Soybean production is forecast at 237 million bushels – 5 percent higher than last year. Yield is forecast at 51 bushels at acre. That would tie the record set in 2007.