In November, USDA dropped U.S. corn production slightly from the previous month’s forecast, while raising its production estimates for soybeans and cotton. Records are still expected to be broken for corn and soybeans in both yield and production.

Corn

In its Nov. 10 Crop Production report, USDA forecast corn production at 14.4 billion bushels, down slightly from the previous forecast, but up 3 percent from 2013. Based on conditions as of Nov. 1, yields are expected to average 173.4 bushels per acre, down 0.8 bushel from the previous forecast but 14.6 bushels above the 2013 average. If realized, this will be the highest yield and production on record for the United States. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 83.1 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast but down 5 percent from 2013.

Soybeans

Soybean production is forecast at a record 3.96 billion bushels, up less than 1 percent from October and up 18 percent from last year. Yields are expected to average a record high 47.5 bushels per acre, up 0.4 bushel from last month and up 3.5 bushels from last year. Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at a record 83.4 million acres, unchanged from last month.

Cotton

U.S. cotton production is forecast at 16.4 million bales, up less than 1 percent from last month and up 27 percent from last year. Yield is expected to average 797 pounds per harvested acre, down 24 pounds from last year. Upland cotton production is forecast at 15.8 million bales, up 29 percent from 2013. Pima cotton production, forecast at 578,000 bales, was unchanged from last month. In the Mid-South, estimates of cotton yield were increased by 15 pounds from the previous month in Arkansas, to 1,137 pounds per acre, but declined by 29 pounds in Louisiana, 11 pounds in Mississippi, 58 pounds in Missouri and nine pounds in Tennessee.

Rice

For average U.S. rice yields, USDA raised its estimate from 7,584 pounds per acre to 7,597 pounds per acre. USDA increased U.S. rice production from 189.9 million hundredweight to 221 million hundredweight over 2013.

Peanuts

U.S. peanut production was raised to 5.04 billion pounds compared to 4.17 billion pounds in 2013. Mississippi peanut yields remained unchanged from the previous month, at 3,500 pounds per acre. Average U.S. peanut yields increased by 48 pounds over last month to 3,860 pounds. Georgia’s peanut production was increased to 2.4 billion pounds.

Grain sorghum

Estimated U.S. grain sorghum yield was increased from 65.4 bushels per acre to 66.1 bushels per acre. U.S. grain sorghum was raised from 389 million bushels in 2013 to 407 million in 2014. Arkansas yields were estimated at 88 bushels, Louisiana, 100 bushels and Mississippi, 90 bushels.