Record yields: USDA forecasts historic bushels for corn, soybeans, wheat

WASHINGTON — The first survey-based crop production data of the current growing season projects record corn, soybean and wheat yield averages in Illinois and Indiana, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Crop production data from this report is based primarily on farmer surveys and satellite imagery. Field samples from USDA’s objective survey plots will not be available until the September report.

‘I’ Corn

Based on Aug. 1 conditions, the Illinois corn yield is forecast at a record 214 bushels per acre, 22 bushels higher than 2020. The Prairie State’s previous record of 210 was set in 2018. The harvested area is estimated at 11 million acres, 1% lower than 2020. Production is forecast at a record 2.35 billion bushels, up 10% from last year’s production.

Indiana’s average corn yield is forecast at 194 bushels per acre, up 7 bushels from the previous year. If realized, this will top the highest corn yield on record by 5 bushels set in 2018. Total production is forecast at 1.02 billion bushels from 5.25 million acres, unchanged from 2020.

Iowa corn is projected to average 193 bushels per acre, up 15 bushels from last year, according to Aug. 1 conditions. Harvested area is estimated at 12.65 million acres, down from 12.9 million in 2020. Statewide production is projected at over 2.441 billion bushels compared to 2.296 billion a year ago.

‘I’ Soybeans

The harvested area in Illinois is forecast at 10.65 million acres, up 4% from 2020. The Illinois soybean yield is forecast at a record 64 bushels per acre, up 5 bushels from 2020 and one-half bushel above the previous record set in 2018. Production is forecast at a record 682 million bushels, up 13% from 2020.

Indiana’s soybean yield is forecast at 60 bushels per acre, up 2 bushels from the record high in 2020. If realized, this will set a new state record by 2 bushels per acre. Total production is forecast at 341.4 million bushels, up 4% from last year, on harvested area of 5.69 million acres.

USDA forecasts Iowa’s soybean production of nearly 570 million bushels. The yield is forecast at 58 bushels per acre, 5 bushels higher than 2020. Soybean harvested acreage is estimated at 9.82 million acres.

‘I’ Wheat

Harvested Illinois winter wheat area in 2021 is forecast at 650,000 acres, up 25% from the previous year. The winter wheat yield is forecast at a record 80 bushels per acre, up 12 bushels from 2020. Production is forecast at 52 million bushels, 47% higher from last year.

Winter wheat yield in Indiana is estimated at 82 bushels per acre, up 1 bushel from the previous forecast and 12 bushels above last year. If realized, this will also be a state record yield. Winter wheat production is forecast at 24.6 million bushels from 300,000 harvested acres.

Nationwide

The 2021 corn planted area for all purposes is estimated at 92.7 million acres, unchanged from the June estimate, but up 2% from 2020. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 84.5 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast and up 2% from last year.

At 14.8 billion bushels, 2021 corn production for grain is forecast to be the second highest production on record for the U.S. The forecasted yield, at 174.6 bushels per acre, is up 2% from last year’s final estimate of 172 bushels per acre.

If realized, this would be the third highest corn yield on record for the U.S. Record high yields are also forecast in California, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

U.S. soybean production is forecast at 4.34 billion bushels, up 5% from last year. Based on conditions as of Aug. 1, yields are expected to average 50 bushels per acre, down 0.2 bushel from last year. Area harvested for soybeans in the U.S. is forecast at 86.7 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast, but up 5% from 2020.

If realized, the soybean yield forecast also will be record high in Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.

U.S. winter wheat production is forecast at 1.32 billion bushels, down 3% from the previous forecast, but 13% higher than 2020. The U.S. yield is forecast at 51.8 bushels per acre, down 1.8 bushels from last month, but up 0.9 bushels from last year’s average yield of 50.9 bushels per acre. If realized, this will be the third highest U.S. yield on record.

Area expected to be harvested for wheat grain or seed totals 25.4 million acres, unchanged from last month, but up 11% from last year. Record high yields are also forecast in Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas for 2021.