Minnesota corn production is forecast at 1.41 billion bushels, down 9% from last year, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Crop Production report issued by the Minnesota Field Office.

Based on conditions as of Oct. 1, yields are expected to average 184 bushels per acre, up 2 bushels per acre from the Sept. 1 forecast, but down 9 bushels from last year. Corn planted acreage is estimated at 8.10 million acres. An estimated 7.65 million of the acres planted will be harvested for grain.

Soybean production is forecast at 373 million bushels, down 4% from last year. The yield is forecast at 46 bushels per acre, down a bushel per acre from the Sept. 1 forecast and 6.0 bushels below 2016. Soybean planted acreage is estimated at 8.15 million acres, with 8.10 million acres to be harvested.

Production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures for hay is forecast at 2.61 million tons, down 23% from the previous year. Yield is expected to average 2.90 tons per acre, down a half-ton from last year. Harvested area is forecast at 900,000 acres, down 100,000 acres from 2016. Production of other hay is forecast at 1.33 million tons, up 28% from last year. Yields are expected to average 1.90 tons per acre. Harvested area is forecast at 700,000 acres, up 180,000 acres from 2016.

Dry edible bean production is forecast at 3.68 million per hundredweight, up 12% from last year. An expected 168,000 acres will be harvested, with an expected yield of 2,190 pounds per acre.

Sugarbeet production is estimated at 12.2 million tons, down 3% from last year. Yield is forecast at 29.5 tons per acre, down 1.6 tons from the September forecast and down a half ton from 2016. Acres expected to be harvested decreased 4,000 acres from last year to 413,000 acres.

Sunflower production is forecast at 75.9 million pounds, down 33% from 2016. Yield is forecast at 1,705 pounds per acre, with an expected 44,500 acres harvested.

Canola production is forecast at 67.3 million pounds, up 44% from 2016. Yield is forecast at 1,950 pounds per acre, with an expected 34,500 acres harvested.

The forecasts in this report are based on Oct. 1 conditions and do not reflect weather effects since that time. The next crop production forecasts, based on conditions as of Nov. 1, will be released on Nov. 9.

Field office staff note that following a thorough review of all data, 2016 soybean acreage, yield and production have been revised. Harvested acreage for 2016 has been revised to 7.49 million acres, down 10,000 acres from the previous estimate. The 2016 yield, at 52 bushels per acre, is down a half-bushel from the previous estimate. Production has been revised to 389 million bushels, down 4.27 million bushels from the previous 2016 estimate. Updated 2016 district and county estimates will be available in February.

Source: USDA NASS Minnesota Field Office