USDA hikes Illinois, Indiana corn yield estimates

WASHINGTON — Statewide corn yield averages in Illinois and Indiana were increased in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s crop production report released Oct. 12.

Based on Oct. 1 conditions, USDA forecast the Illinois corn yield average to a record 210 bushels per acre, 8 above 2021. If realized, this would match the record set 2018.

Illinois’ harvested area is forecast at 10.55 million acres, with the resulting production estimated at 2.22 billion bushels, up 1% from a year ago.

USDA added 1 bushel from last month to Indiana’s projected corn yield and it now stands at an average of 187 bushels per acre, 8 below 2021.

With an estimated 5.05 million harvested acres, Indiana is projected to produce 944.35 million bushels of corn compared to nearly 1.028 billion in 2021.

Iowa’s corn yield average was unchanged at 200 bushels per acre, 4 below last year. The anticipated 12.45 million harvested acres is expected to produce 2.499 billion bushels compared to nearly 2.540 billion last year.

‘I’ Soybeans

USDA kept the Illinois soybean yield average unchanged from last month at 64 bushels per acre, 1 below the record set in 2021.

Illinois’ harvested soybean acres are estimated at 10.7 million, up from 10.51 million acres last year, and raising total production to 684.8 million bushels. The Prairie State produced 683.15 million bushels in 2021.

Indiana’s soybean yield average was reduced from 60 bushels per acre last month to 59 in October, 1 below 2021.

The 5.83 million harvested acres are expected to produce 343.97 million bushels. Indiana produced 338.4 million last year.

The soybean average yield in Iowa was reduced by 1 bushel from last month to 58 bushels per acre, 5 below 2021.

USDA projects Iowa to produce 581.16 million bushels of soybeans across 10.02 million acres after hitting 631.89 million bushels a year ago.

Nationwide Corn

The U.S. forecasted average corn yield of 171.9 bushels per acre is down 3% from last year’s record high final estimate of 176.7 bushels per acre.

Record high yields are also forecast in California at 200 bushels per acre, Virginia at 161 and Wisconsin at 182.

Acreage harvested for grain, forecast at 80.8 million acres, is unchanged from the previous forecast and also 5% lower than last year.

At 13.9 billion bushels, the 2022 corn production for grain is forecast to be the seventh highest production on record for the United States.

Nationwide Soybeans

USDA forecasts the U.S. soybean yield to average 49.8 bushels per acre, 4% below last year’s final estimate of 51.7.

U.S. acreage harvested for soybeans is forecast at 86.6 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast and less than 1% higher than last year.

U.S. soybean production is forecast at nearly 4.313 billion bushels, down 1% from the previous estimate and 3% below last year’s 4.465 billion.

Record high yields are forecast in Arkansas at 53 bushels per acre, Mississippi at 56 and South Carolina at 38.