January 11, 2013

Corn for grain production in Nebraska is estimated at 1.29 billion bushels for 2012, down 16% from 2011 and the smallest production since 2006, according to year-end surveys by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Yield of 142 bushels per acre is up 3 bushels from the November forecast, but still 18 bushels below last year. Farmers harvested 9.1 million acres of corn for grain, down 5% from 2011.

Soybean production for 2012 totaled 207 million bushels, down 21% from 2011. Yield, at 41.5 bushels per acre, is down 12.5 bushels from a year earlier and the lowest since 2003. Area for harvest, at 4.99 million acres, is up 3% from 2011.

Sorghum for grain production in 2012 is estimated at 3.5 million bushels, down 46% from 2011. Yield, at 59 bushels per acre, is down 35 bushels from a year earlier and the lowest since 2002. Area harvested for grain is 60,000 acres, down 10,000 acres from a year ago and the lowest sorghum for grain acreage since 1937.

Hay production totaled 4.07 million tons in 2012, down 28% from a year earlier. Area harvested is 2.57 million acres, up 4% from 2011. The average yield, at 1.58 tons per acre, is down 0.69 ton per acre from 2011 and the lowest in 36 years (1976). Alfalfa production is down 28% from a year earlier and all other hay production is down 27%.

National Harvest Trends Differ

Nationally, corn for grain production is estimated at 10.8 billion bushels, up 1% from the November 1 forecast but 13% below 2011. The average yield in the United States is estimated at 123.4 bushels per acre. This is up 1.1 bushels from the November forecast but 23.8 bushels below the 2011 average yield of 147.2. Area harvested for grain is estimated at 87.4 million acres, down slightly from the November forecast but up 4% from 2011.

Sorghum grain production in 2012 is estimated at 247 million bushels, down 4% from the November 1 forecast but up 15% from 2011. Planted area is estimated at 6.24 million acres, up 14% from last year. Area harvested for grain, at 4.96 million acres, is up 26% from 2011. Average grain yield, at 49.8 bushels per acre, is down 1.3 bushels from the previous forecast and down 4.8 bushels from last year.

Soybean production in 2012 totaled 3.01 billion bushels, up 1% from the November 1 forecast but down 3% from 2011. United States production is the seventh largest on record. The average yield per acre is estimated at 39.6 bushels, 0.3 bushel above the November 1 forecast but 2.3 bushels below last year’s yield. Harvested area is up 3% from 2011 to 76.1 million acres and is the third highest on record.