Good yields in the Delta and Texas pushed the U.S. cotton crop higher in October, according to USDA’s Oct. 8 Crop Production report. Cotton production is forecast at 18.872 million bales, up slightly from last month and up 55 percent from last year's 12.2 million bales. Yield is expected to average 841 pounds per harvested acre, up 64 pounds from last year. The Texas cotton is estimated at 8.94 million bales.

Upland cotton production is forecast at 18.4 million bales, up fractionally from last month and 56 percent above 2009. Producers in Texas and the Delta are expecting increased yields from last month while producers in the Southeast are expecting reduced yields. American Pima production is forecast at 497,800 bales.

World cotton numbers are bullish, with USDA also projecting lower production and higher imports for China.

Corn

Corn production is forecast at 12.7 billion bushels, down 4 percent from the September forecast and down 3 percent from last year’s record production of 13.1 billion bushels. Based on conditions as of Oct. 1, yields are expected to average 155.8 bushels per acre, down 6.7 bushels from the previous month and 8.9 bushels below last year's record of 164.7 bushels.

Forecasted yields decreased from last month throughout much of the Corn Belt and Tennessee Valley. Illinois showed the largest decline, down 14 bushels per acre. Indiana and Iowa are both down 10 bushels from the previous month, while Missouri and Nebraska declined 9 bushels per acre.

Soybeans

Soybean production is forecast at a record high 3.41 billion bushels, down 2 percent from September but 1 percent above last year. Based on Sept. 1 conditions, yields are expected to average a record high 44.4 bushels per acre, down 0.3 bushel from last month but up 0.4 bushel from last year. Compared with last month, yields are forecast lower or unchanged in all major-producing states except Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, and Wisconsin.

The largest decreases in yield from last month are expected in North Carolina and Virginia, down 5 and 4 bushels, respectively. If realized, the forecasted yields in Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, and Wisconsin will be record highs and the forecasted yield in Minnesota will tie the previous record high.

Rice

U.S. rice production is estimated at 242 million hundredweight. Projected yields dropped significantly from last month in Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri.

Peanuts

U.S. peanut production is estimated at 3.9 billion pounds, an increase over last year’s 3.7 billion pounds, but below the 5.1 billion pound crop of 2008.

Sorghum

U.S. sorghum production is estimated at 337 million bushels, compared to 383 million bushels in 2009.