USDA Crop Production Report: Crop Comments

USDA Crop Production Report:  Crop Comments  (November)

Corn: The anticipated harvested area for grain in 2023 remains steady at 87.1 million acres, showing no change from the previous projection but marking a 10 percent increase from the previous year. Objective yield data as of November 1 reveal a record-breaking number of ears in the objective yield States (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin). The forecast for grain production stands at 15.2 billion bushels, potentially setting a record for the highest grain production in the United States. The predicted yield, as of November 1, is 174.9 bushels per acre, up 1.5 bushels from last year's final estimate of 173.4 bushels. Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee are expected to experience record high yields.

As of October 22, 59% of the 2023 corn acreage has been harvested, matching last year but surpassing the 5-year average by 5 percentage points. By October 29, 71% of the acreage was harvested, trailing last year by 3 percentage points but outpacing the 5-year average by 5 percentage points.

Sorghum: The forecasted area harvested for grain in 2023 remains at 6.26 million acres, showing no change from the previous estimate but reflecting a 37 percent increase from 2022. The expected production is 322 million bushels, a 10 percent decrease from the prior estimate but a substantial 71 percent rise from the previous year. The forecasted yield, based on conditions as of November 1, is 51.4 bushels per acre, down 6.0 bushels from the previous estimate but up 10.3 bushels from the 2022 yield of 41.1 bushels per acre.

As of October 29, 77% of the 2023 sorghum acreage had been harvested, surpassing last year by 1 percentage point and the 5-year average by 6 percentage points.

Rice: The projected production for rice in 2023 is 220 million cwt, slightly below the previous estimate but reflecting a notable 37 percent increase from 2022. The anticipated area for harvest remains unchanged at 2.85 million acres, mirroring the previous forecast but indicating a 31 percent rise from last year. The average yield, based on conditions as of November 1, is forecasted at 7,707 pounds per acre, down 30 pounds per acre from the previous estimate but up 324 pounds per acre from 2022.

As of October 29, 95% of the rice acreage had been harvested, trailing last year by 2 percentage points and the 5-year average by 1 percentage point.

Soybeans: The predicted production for soybeans in 2023 is 4.13 billion bushels, a 1 percent increase from the previous estimate but a 3 percent decrease from last year. The forecasted yield, based on conditions as of November 1, is 49.9 bushels per acre, up 0.3 bushel from both the previous forecast and last year. The estimated area harvested for beans in the United States remains at 82.8 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast but down 4 percent from 2022.

As of October 29, soybean harvest was 85 percent complete nationwide, trailing last year by 2 percentage points but leading the 5-year average by 7 percentage points. Record high yields are expected in Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Peanuts: The anticipated production for peanuts in 2023 is 5.98 billion pounds, reflecting a 4 percent decrease from the previous forecast but an 8 percent increase from 2022. The expected area harvested stands at 1.60 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast but up 16 percent from 2022. Based on conditions as of November 1, the average yield for the United States is forecasted at 3,740 pounds per acre, down 165 pounds per acre from the previous forecast and down 268 pounds per acre from 2022.

As of October 29, 69% of the nation's peanut acreage had been harvested, lagging behind last year by 8 percentage points and the 5-year average by 1 percentage point.

Cotton: The projected upland harvested area for the nation is expected to total 7.88 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast but up 10 percent from last year. The expected Pima harvested area remains at 141,100 acres, unchanged from the previous estimate but down 20 percent from last year. Upland cotton production is forecasted at 12.7 million 480-pound bales, a 2 percent increase from the previous forecast but a 9 percent decrease from 2022. Pima cotton production is forecasted at 354,000 bales, down 1 percent from the previous forecast and down 25 percent from 2022.

As of October 29, 49% of the nation's cotton acreage had been harvested, trailing last year by 5 percentage points but leading the 5-year average by 2 percentage points. On October 29, 29% of the 2023 cotton acreage was rated in good to excellent condition, unchanged from the previous week but 1 percentage point below the previous year.

Ginnings totaled 3,656,300 running bales prior to November 1, down from 4,245,650 running bales ginned prior to the same date last year.

Sugarbeets: The forecasted production of sugarbeets for the 2023 crop year is 35.5 million tons, a 2 percent increase from last month and a 9 percent increase from last year. Producers expect to harvest 1.12 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 2 percent from last year. The yield is forecasted at 31.7 tons per acre, up 0.6 ton from last month and up 3.1 tons from last year.

Sugarcane: The forecasted production of sugarcane for sugar and seed is 32.8 million tons, slightly up from the previous estimate but down 5 percent from last season. Producers intend to harvest 923,000 acres for sugar and seed during the 2023 crop year, down 1 percent from last month and from 2022. The expected yields for sugar and seed are 35.6 tons per acre, up 0.4 ton from last month but down 1.7 tons from last season.

Potatoes: The anticipated production of potatoes for the 2023 crop year is 434 million cwt, up 9 percent from last year. Planted acreage, at 964,000 acres, is up 2 percent from the June estimate and up 5 percent from last season. Area harvested, at 959,800 acres, is up 5 percent from the previous year. The yield forecast, at 452 cwt per acre, is up 14 cwt from last year's yield.