USDA Lowers Estimates for US Corn Production and Yield

    

   NEW YORK (DTN) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture this morning lowered 
its U.S. corn yield estimate, forecasting corn production at a record 13.2 
billion bushels, down 2 percent from the August forecast. The outlook is 100 
million bushels above the 2009 yield of 13.1 million bushels, which was a 
record high.

   Based on conditions as of Sept. 1, yields are expected to average 162.5 
bushels per acre, down 2.5 bushels from the previous month and 2.2 bushels 
below last year's record of 164.7 bushels. 

   The agency said forecasted yields decreased from last month throughout much 
of the Corn Belt, Tennessee Valley, and Delta. Yields were up from August in 
the lower portions of the Southeast.

   Most analysts had expected the USDA to revise down its yield estimate from 
the department's August projection of 165 bushels an acre, although the 
revision is a little steeper than most projections.

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