© 2024 WGLT
A public service of Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Large Corn And Soybean Crops Estimated

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has slightly lowered its corn and soybean harvest estimates based on updated harvest figures across the U.S. Farmers are expected to bring in 13.56 billion bushels of corn, about 1 percent lower than the September estimate, but still the third largest crop on record. Record per-acre corn yields are expected in 11 states including Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin and Illinois. Soybean production estimates are also 1 percent lower. But the 3.89 billion bushels would be the second largest on record. Best-ever yields are expected in seven states, with Illinois expected to be the top soybean producer this year. About a fourth of the nation's corn crop has been harvested, which is slightly behind average. Soybeans are ahead of the five-year average with 42 percent harvested.