US corn, soybean harvests advance at rapid pace - USDA

12 October 2010 23:10  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS)--Dry weather across the US midwest has allowed farmers to speed through the harvest of corn and soybeans at a pace well ahead of average, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said on Tuesday.

As of 10 October, farmers in the 18 top-producing corn states had harvested 51% of the crop, well ahead of the five-year average of 30% by the same date, the USDA said in its weekly Crop Progress report.

The soybean harvest in the top states was even further ahead with 67% of acres completed, compared to the five-year average of 48% harvested by 10 October.

One year ago, only 13% of the corn and 22% of the soybeans had been harvested by 10 October.

In the high plains and other grain growing areas, the USDA reported that 70% of 2011 winter wheat acres had been planted by 10 October, with 38% of those plantings already emerged and ready for winter dormancy.

Last week, the USDA forecast that corn production in 2010 would be 12.7bn bushels, down 4% from the September forecast and down 3% from last year’s record production of 13.1bn bushels.

The USDA’s forecast for soybean production also fell from the September estimate but still promised to be a record-high crop at 3.41bn bushels.

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By: Frank Zaworski
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