USDA Crop Production Report Indicates Record Yields

Sep 13, 2016

The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture crop production report indicates that the 2016 area harvested for corn is forecast at 86.6 million acres, unchanged from August but up 7 percent from last year. The September 1 corn objective yield data indicate the third highest number of ears on record for the combined 10 objective yield states. At 15.1 billion bushels, 2016 corn production is forecast to be the highest production on record for the United States. Grain sorghum production is forecast at 488 million bushels, up 3 percent from last month but down 18 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 6.46 million acres, unchanged from August 1 but down 18 percent from 2015. Based on September 1 conditions, yield is forecast at a 75.7 bushels per acre, up 2.2 bushels from last month but down 0.3 bushels from last year. If realized, this will be the second highest yield on record for the United States.

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Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.