By EMILY GERSEMA, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - North Dakota’s corn production is forecast at a record high 144 million bushels, up 26 percent from last year, the Agriculture Department says. North Dakota’s soybean crop is projected at 101 million bushels, up from 86.8 million bushels last year and a record high.
Corn planted in states east of the Mississippi River has gotten plenty of sunshine and rain, increasing the likelihood that farmers will harvest a bumper crop of 10.1 billion bushels this fall.
Iowa and Minnesota are the only states in the Corn Belt that probably will see a slight drop in production, department economists said Tuesday. North Dakota’s production is forecast at a record high 144 million bushels, up 26 percent from last year.
Economists expect Iowa will harvest 1.9 billion bushels, down 52 million from last year. Minnesota is forecast to harvest 1.02 billion bushels - about 30 million less than last year.
Meanwhile, Illinois will see an increase in production. Corn farmers there probably will harvest 1.7 billion bushels - 190 million bushels more than last year.
Farmers in Indiana are expected to pull in 792 million bushels, up from the 632 million harvested last year.
This month, exports of U.S. corn are expected to be down 50 million bushels from last month’s prediction of 9.9 billion bushels because of an increase in competition from countries such as Argentina. Prices for corn will reach as high as $2.40 per bushel.
The department adjusted its wheat forecast this month to 2.29 billion bushels - down 1 percent from July but up 42 percent from last year’s crop. Economists attributed the drop to smaller winter and spring wheat crops.
In North Dakota, spring wheat production is forecast at 227 million bushels, up from 165 million bushels last year. The durum wheat crop is expected to be 50 million bushels, up slightly from 48.8 million bushels last year. Durum is used to make pasta.
Stockpiles of U.S. wheat are down 94 million bushels this month at 644 million bushels because of an increase in use. U.S. wheat exports are 2.2 billion bushels this month, up 65 million bushels from last month’s forecast.
Wheat is expected to sell for as much as $3.70 per bushel.
Farmers are expected to harvest 2.86 billion bushels of soybeans this year. That’s a 2 percent increase from last year’s crop but a 1 percent drop from the 2001 crop.
This month, U.S. soybean exports are up 10 million bushels from last month’s forecast of 990 million bushels because of an increase in demand for protein meal, which is fed to livestock. Soybean prices are as high as $5.55 per bushel.
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On the Net:
USDA Crop Report: http://www.usda.gov/nass/
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