Corn for grain production is estimated at 15.1 billion bushels, down 1 percent from the November forecast but up 11 percent from the 2015 estimate. The average yield in the United States is estimated at 174.6 bushels per acre. This is down 0.7 bushel from the November forecast but 6.2 bushels above the 2015 average yield of 168.4 bushels per acre. Area harvested for grain is estimated at 86.7 million acres, down slightly from the November forecast but up 7 percent from 2015.
Sorghum grain production in 2016 is estimated at 480 million bushels, up 4 percent from the November forecast but down 20 percent from the 2015 total. Planted area for 2016 is estimated at 6.69 million acres, down 21 percent from the previous year. Area harvested for grain, at 6.16 million acres, is down 22 percent from 2015. Grain yield is estimated at a record 77.9 bushels per acre, up 1.4 bushels from the previous forecast and up 1.9 bushels from 2015.
Rice production in 2016 is estimated at 224 million cwt, down 5 percent from the previous forecast but up 16 percent from the revised 2015 total. Planted area for 2016 is estimated at 3.15 million acres, up 20 percent from 2015. Area harvested, at 3.10 million acres, is also up 20 percent from the previous crop year. The average yield for all United States rice is estimated at 7,237 pounds per acre, down 256 pounds from the previous forecast and 235 pounds below the 2015 United States average of 7,472 pounds per acre.
Soybean production in 2016 totaled a record 4.31 billion bushels, down 1 percent from the November forecast but up 10 percent from 2015. The average yield per acre is estimated at a record high 52.1 bushels, 0.4 bushel below the November forecast but 4.1 bushels above the previous record yield in 2015. Harvested area is up 1 percent from last year to a record 82.7 million acres.
All cotton production is estimated at 17.0 million 480-pound bales, up 3 percent from the December forecast and up 32 percent from 2015. The United States yield is estimated at 855 pounds per acre, up 34 pounds from the December forecast and up 89 pounds from last year. Harvested area, at 9.52 million acres, is down 1 percent from the December forecast but up 18 percent from last year.
Source: USDA