Corn, soybean production forecast at record high

SIOUX FALLS - South Dakota’s October 1 corn production is forecast at 690.0 million bushels, a record high production forecast for the state, according to the South Dakota Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The forecasted production is up 2 percent from last month’s forecast of 676.2 million bushels and up 18 percent from last year’s level. Yield is forecast at 150.0 bushels per acre, up 3 bushel from the September forecast and up 17 bushels from last year. Acres to be harvested for grain are forecast at 4.6 million, the same as the previous forecast but up 200,000 acres from last year.

Soybean production is forecast at 168.0 million bushels, up slightly from last month and up 22 percent from last year. Yield, at 40.0 bushels per acre, is up 1 bushel from last month and up 6 bushels from last year. Acres for harvest are now forecast at 4.20 million, down 100,000 acres from the previous forecast but still up 140,000 acres from last year.

Sorghum production is forecast at 8.25 million bushels, up 12 percent from last month and also up 12 percent from last year. Yield, at 66.0 bushels per acre, is up 2 bushels from last month and is also 2 bushels above last year’s level. Grain sorghum harvested acres, forecast at 125,000, are up 10,000 acres from last year.

All sunflower production is forecast at 998.3 million pounds, down 5 percent from last year. The estimated yield, at 1,809 pounds per acre, is up 40 pounds, or 2 percent, from last year. Harvested acres, at 552,000, are down 7 percent from last year.

Alfalfa hay, with a forecasted production of 5.76 million tons, yielded 2.40 tons per acre from 2.40 million acres harvested. This is 4 percent above last year’s production.

Other hay, with a forecasted production of 2.18 million tons, has a yield of 1.5 tons per acre from 1.45 million acres harvested.

Dry edible bean production is forecast at 171,700 cwt. for 2009, up 12 percent from last year. Producers plan to harvest 10,100 acres, with a forecasted yield of 1,700 pounds per acre.

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