If realized, this will be the highest corn yield and production on record for the United States.

Based on October 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2014 corn crop is forecast at 1.58 billion bushels, down 2% from last year's record high, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Acreage harvested for grain is estimated at 8.75 million acres, down 8% from a year ago. Average yield is forecast at a record high 181 bushels per acre, up 11 bushels from last year.

Nationally, corn production is forecast at 14.5 billion bushels, up less than 1% from the previous forecast and up 4% from 2013. Based on conditions as of October 1, yields are expected to average 174.2 bushels per acre, up 2.5 bushels from the September forecast and 15.4 bushels above the 2013 average. If realized, this will be the highest yield and production on record for the United States. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 83.1 million acres, down 1% from the September forecast and down 5% from 2013.

Soybean production in Nebraska is forecast at a record high 284 million bushels, 11% above last year. Area for harvest, at a record high 5.35 million acres, is up 12% from 2013. Yield is forecast at 53 bushels per acre, down 0.5 bushel from a year ago.

Nationally, soybean production is forecast at a record 3.93 billion bushels, up slightly from September and up 17% from last year. Based on October 1 conditions, yields are expected to average a record high 47.1 bushels per acre, up 0.5 bushel from last month and up 3.1 bushels from last year. Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at a record 83.4 million acres, down less than 1% from September but up 9% from last year.

Sorghum production of 9.24 million bushels is down 1%from a year ago. Area for grain harvest of 120,000 acres is down 14% from last year. Yield is forecast at 77 bushels per acre, up 10 bushels from last year.

Dry edible bean production is forecast at 3.88 million hundredweight, up 41% from 2013. Area for harvest, at 152,000 acres, is up 30% from last year. Yield is estimated at 2,550 pounds per acre, up 200 pounds per acre from that of a year ago.

Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.36 million tons, up 4% from 2013. Area for harvest, at 46,000 acres, is up 4% from last year. Yield is estimated at 29.6 tons per acre, down slightly from the 29.7 tons of a year ago.

All sunflower production is forecast at 35.2 million pounds, up 2% from last year. Acreage for harvest, at 32,000 acres, is down 6,500 acres from 2013. Yield is forecast at 1100 pounds per acre, up nearly 200 pounds per acre from a year ago. Of the acres for harvest, non-oil sunflowers account for 9,000 acres and oil sunflowers account for 23,000 acres.

Alfalfa hay production, at 3.02 million tons, is up 25% from the 2013 crop. Area for harvest, at 720,000 acres, is up 3% from a year ago. Yield at a record high 4.2 tons per acre, is up 0.75 ton from 2013. All other hay production, at 2.15 million tons, is down 15% from 2013. Area for harvest, at 1.65 million acres, is down 8% from a year ago. Yield of 1.3 tons per acre, is down 0.1 ton from last year.

The full report is available on the USDA website at http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/crop1014.pdf

USDA News Release (Oct. 10, 2014)