Corn for grain production in Nebraska, based on year-end surveys, is a new record high of 1.70 billion bushels, up slightly from 2015, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Yield of 178 bushels per acre is down 7 bushels from last year. Farmers harvested 9.55 million acres of corn for grain up 4% from 2015.

Soybean production for 2016 is a new record high of 314 million bushels, up 3% from 2015. Yield, a new record high of 61.0 bushels per acre, is up 3 bushels from a year earlier. Area for harvest, at 5.15 million acres, is down 2% from 2015.

Sorghum for grain production in 2016 is estimated at 17.9 million bushels, down 23% from 2015. Yield, at 102 bushels per acre, is up 6 bushels from a year earlier. Area harvested for grain, at 175 thousand acres, is down 27% from 2015.

Alfalfa production, at 3.11 million tons, is down 8% from a year earlier. The average yield, a new record high of 4.15 tons per acre, is up 0.2 tons per acre from 2015. Area harvested for dry hay, at 750thousand acres, is down 12% from 2015. Seedings of alfalfa during 2016 totaled 110 thousand acres, down 30 thousand acres from the year earlier. All other hay production, at 2.64 million tons, is down 11% from last year. The average yield, at 1.55 tons per acre, is down 0.05 tons per acre from last year. Area harvested of other dry hay is 1.70 million acres, down 8% from 2015. Total forage production from alfalfa and other hay was 5.88 million tons in 2016, down 9% from a year earlier.

Proso millet production in 2016 is estimated at 3.08 million bushels, down 7% from last year's production. Yield, at 35 bushels per acre, tied the previous record high and was up 1 bushel from a year earlier. Area harvested for grain, at 88 thousand acres, is down 9% from 2015.

Oil sunflower production in 2016 is 37.8 million pounds, down 11% from last year. Yield, at 1,350 pounds per acre, is down 230 pounds from a year earlier. Area harvested, at 28 thousand acres, is up 4% from 2015. Non-oil sunflower production of 20.4 million pounds is down 45% from last year. Yield, at 1,850 pounds per acre, is down 250 pounds from a year earlier. Area harvested, at 11 thousand acres, is down 6,500 acres from 2015.

Sugarbeet production is estimated at 1.41 million tons, up 6% from last year. Yield is a new record high of 29.9 tons per acre, up 1.5 tons from the previous year. Acres harvested are estimated at 47.2 thousand acres, up 1% from the previous year.

Dry edible bean production of 2.77 million hundredweight is down 10% from a year ago. Yield, at 2,270 pounds per acre, is down 110 pounds from a year earlier. Area harvested, at 122 thousand acres, is down 5% from 2015.

Fall potato production is 7.38 million hundredweight, up 7% from 2015. Yield, at 450 hundredweight per acre, is unchanged hundredweight from a year earlier. Area harvested, at 16.4 thousand acres, is up 1,100 acres from 2015.

Winter Wheat Projection for 2017

Winter wheat seeded area for harvest in Nebraska in 2017 is estimated at 1.09 million acres, down from last year’s seeded area of 1.37 million acres, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. If realized this would be a new record low, below the 1.37 million acres planted for harvest in 2012 and 2016.