U.S. Crop Production report
National Agricultural Statistics Service
USDA
Washington, D.C.

SUMMARY

• Corn production up 3% from August forecast
• Soybean production up 2%
• Cotton production up 5%

Corn production is forecast at 10.6 billion bushels, up 3 percent from last month but 10 percent below 2004.  If realized, this would be the second largest crop on record.  Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 143.2 bushels per acre, up 4.0 bushels from August but 17.2 bushels below the record high
last year.  Forecast yields are down from the previous year in all Corn Belt States except Michigan and Wisconsin.  Compared with last year, the largest yield decreases are expected in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and New Jersey.  Farmers expect to harvest 74.3 million acres of corn for grain, down 50,000 acres from August  but up 1 percent from 2004.

Soybean production is forecast at 2.86 billion bushels, up 2 percent from the August forecast but down 9 percent from the record crop of 2004.  Based on September 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 39.6 bushels per acre, up 0.9 bushel from August.  Adequate moisture across most of the Corn Belt and the Great Plains by the end of the month was a relief for many dry areas, including most of the drought-stricken areas of Illinois and
Missouri.  The Delta and Southeast also received favorable moisture, maintaining good yield potential in most areas, including a record high forecast in Louisiana and a record tying forecast in South Carolina.

All cotton production is forecast at 22.3 million 480-pound bales, up 5 percent from the August forecast but 4 percent below last year's production.  Yield is expected to average 782 pounds per acre, 34 pounds above last month.  If realized, both the yield and production will be the second highest on record.  The September
harvested area is expected to total 13.7 million acres, up less than 1 percent from August and 5 percent above 2004.  Producers in the Great Plains, California, Georgia, New Mexico, and Louisiana are expecting higher yields than last month.  Yield expectations in Texas increased due to excellent growing conditions in the High Plains area.

Complete report in PDF format: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/field/pcp-bb/2005/crop0905.pdf