U.S. Corn and Soybean Growers Expected to Harvest Record-High Crops in 2016

Favorable field conditions were a primary contributing factor to this year's expected record corn yield.
Favorable field conditions were a primary contributing factor to this year's expected record corn yield.

According to the USDA’s early August “Crop Production” report, U.S. corn and soybean growers may achieve record-high crop totals this year.

U.S. corn production is forecasted to reach 15.2 billion bushels, while soybean production is predicted to hit 4.06 billion bushels before the end of 2016.

Optimal field conditions are helping corn growers increase their production. In total, corn production is expected to rise 11 percent from 2015, and the average corn yield is forecasted at 175.1 bushels per acre, a new record-high. Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska are expected to lead the way in terms of production.

Weather has also made for ideal conditions for soybean growers. They are predicted to increase their production by three percent from 2015. Soybean yields are expected to reach 48.9 bushels per acre, which would become a new record. Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin are all expecting record soybean yield totals.

The NASS reported in June that U.S. soybean planted area estimates had reached a record high of 83.7 million acres this year. Planers either maintained or increased their soybean acreage in 18 of the major-producing states, including Kansas, Minnesota and Missouri.

Approximately 94 percent of this year’s soybean crops are herbicide-resistant varieties. As of the end of June, there were 870 million bushels of soybeans stored across the U.S.

To compile the August 2016 statistics, the NASS interviewed more than 22,000 producers across the country and analyzed their own field and lab measurements.