Based on September 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2018 corn crop is forecast at 1.85 billion bushels, up 10% from last year's production, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Area harvested for grain, at 9.35 million acres, is up 1% from a year ago. Average yield is forecast at 198 bushels per acre, up 17 bushels from last year. Both yield and production are new record highs if realized.
Figure 1. USDA NASS forecasts record corn, soybean, sorghum, and sugarbeet yields for Nebraska.
Nationally, corn production is forecast at 14.8 billion bushels, up 2% from August and up 2% from last year. Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 181.3 bushels per acre, up 2.9 bushels from the August forecast and up 4.7 bushels from 2017. If realized, this will be the highest yield on record for the United States. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 81.8 million acres, unchanged from the August forecast, but down 1% from 2017.
Soybean production is forecast at 338 million bushels, up 4% from last year. Area for harvest, at 5.45 million acres, is down 4% from 2017. Yield is forecast at 62 bushels per acre, up 4.5 bushels from a year ago. Both yield and production are new record highs if realized.
Nationally, soybean production is forecast at a record 4.69 billion bushels, up 2% from August and up 7% from last year. Based on September 1 conditions, yields are expected to average a record high 52.8 bushels per acre, up 1.2 bushels from last month and up 3.7 bushels from last year. Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at 88.9 million acres, unchanged from August but down 1% from 2017.
Nebraska sorghum for grain production of 15.8 million bushels is up 32% from a year ago. Area for harvest, at 155,000 acres, is up 15% from 2017. Yield is forecast at 102 bushels per acre, up 13 bushels from last year, and a record high if realized.
Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.52 million tons, up 6% from 2017. Area for harvest, at 44,400 acres, is down 2% from last year. Yield is forecast at 34.3 tons per acre, up 2.5 tons from a year ago, and a record high if realized.
Dry edible pea production is forecast at 1.14 million cwt, up 44% from a year ago. Area for harvest, at 52,000 acres, is down 7% from 2017. Yield is forecast at 2,200 pounds per acre, up 780 pounds from last year.