USDA Forecasts High Yields for Most Nebraska Crops

August 12, 2015

Based on August 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2015 corn crop is forecast at 1.66 billion bushels, up 4% from last year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Acreage harvested for grain is estimated at 8.90 million acres, down 1% from a year ago. Average yield is forecast at 187 bushels per acre, up 6 bushels from last year and the highest of record.

Nationally corn is forecast at 13.7 billion bushels, down 4% from last year's record production. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 168.8 bushels per acre, down 2.2 bushels from 2014. If realized, this will be the second highest yield and third largest production on record for the United States. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 81.1 million acres, unchanged from the June forecast but down 2% from 2014.

Soybean production in Nebraska is forecast at 288 million bushels, unchanged from last year. Area for harvest, at 5.15 million acres, is down 4% from 2014. Yield is forecast at 56 bushels per acre, up 2 bushels from last year and the highest of record.

Nationally, soybean production is forecast at 3.92 billion bushels, down 1% from last year. Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 46.9 bushels per acre, down 0.9 bushel from last year. Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at a record 83.5 million acres, down 1% from June but up nearly 1% from 2014. Planted area is estimated at 84.3 million acres, down 1% from June.

Nebraska's 2015 winter wheat crop is forecast at 52.0 million bushels, down 27% from last year. Harvested area for grain, at 1.30 million acres, is down 10% from a year ago. Average yield is forecast at 40 bushels per acre, down 9 bushels per acre from 2014.

Nationally, all wheat production, at 2.14 billion bushels, is down slightly from the July forecast but up 5% from 2014. Based on Aug. 1 conditions, US yield is forecast at 44.1 bushels per acre, down 0.2 bushel from last month but up 0.4 bushel from last year.

Sorghum production of 20.2 million bushels is up 54% from a year ago. Area for grain harvest of 220,000 acres, is up 38% from last year. Yield is forecast at 92 bushels per acre, up 10 bushels from last year.

Oat production is forecast at 2.16 million bushels, up 35% from last year and the largest since 2008. Harvested area for grain, at 30,000 acres is up 10,000 acres from last year. Yield is forecast at 72 bushels per acre, down 8 bushels from 2014.

Dry edible bean production is forecast at 3.3 million cwt, down 12% from last year. The average yield is forecast at 2,400 pounds per acre, down 100 pounds from last year. Acres planted by class are as follows: Pinto, 83,000; Great Northern, 36,000; Light Red Kidney, 22,000; Black,
4,000; all other, 4,000.

Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.23 million tons, down 8% from 2014. Area for harvest, at 47,000 acres, is up 2% from last year. Yield is estimated at 26 tons per acre, down 2.9 tons from a year ago.

Alfalfa hay production is forecast at 3.20 million tons, down 6% from last year. Expected yield, at 4.00 tons per acre, is down 0.1 ton from last year. All other hay production is forecast at 3.06 million tons, up 17% from last year. Expected yield, at 1.70 tons per acre, is up 0.2 ton from last year.

For more information see the national USDA Crop Report for conditions as of Aug. 1.