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USDA bumps corn, cotton and soybean crop estimates

• Estimated U.S. cotton production was raised 160,000 bales, to 17.45 million bales, with increases in the Southeast and Delta more than offsetting a reduction for the Southwest.• Forecast corn production for 2012-13 was raised 19 million bushels with a 0.3-bushel increase in corn yield to 122.3 bushels per acre.• U.S. soybean production is forecast at 2.971 billion bushels, up 111 million from last month.• Peanut yield was raised 126 pounds from last month, to 4,058 pounds per acre.

Elton Robinson 1, Editor

November 9, 2012

2 Min Read

USDA raised estimated production for cotton, corn and soybeans in its Nov. 9 Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates and lowered rice production on lower yields.

Cotton

Estimated U.S. cotton production was raised 160,000 bales, to 17.45 million bales, with increases in the Southeast and Delta more than offsetting a reduction for the Southwest. Ending stocks were raised 100,000 bales to 5.8 million bales.

U.S. cotton yield is expected to average 802 pounds per acre. Upland cotton production is forecast at 16.8 million bales, up 14 percent from 2011. Pima cotton production is forecast at 657,000 bales.

World production was raised 500,000 bales, reflecting increases for Uzbekistan, the United States, and some African countries. World consumption was reduced 500,000 bales, mainly in China, where free supplies are tightening due to the accumulation of cotton in the national reserve.

World trade is raised marginally from last month. Forecast world ending stocks now exceed 80 million bales.

Corn and grain sorghum

Forecast corn production for 2012-13 was raised 19 million bushels with a 0.3-bushel increase in corn yield to 122.3 bushels per acre. Sorghum production is forecast 4 million bushels higher, also on a higher yield. Corn food, seed, and industrial use for 2012-13 was raised 17 million bushels. Corn ending stocks are projected 28 million bushels higher at 647 million.

Soybeans

U.S. soybean production is forecast at 2.971 billion bushels, up 111 million from last month. Yield is forecast at 39.3 bushels per acre, up 1.5 bushels as several states show the benefit of late-season rainfall.

Soybean ending stocks are projected at 140 million bushels, up 10 million from last month. The average farm price is projected at $13.90 to $15.90 per bushel, down 35 cents on both ends of the range.

Peanuts

Peanut yield was raised 126 pounds from last month, to 4,058 pounds per acre. Yields were the same or higher than last month’s estimates in every peanut-producing state. U.S. production is estimated at 6.47 billion pounds.

Wheat

 Projected U.S. wheat ending stocks for 2012- 13 were raised 50 million bushels and exports were projected 50 million bushels lower reflecting the slow pace of sales and shipments, and an outlook for increased foreign competition.

Global wheat supplies for 2012-13 are projected 1.9 million tons lower. Global wheat trade is raised for 2012-13, reflecting the continuation of strong shipments from the Black Sea region and India, and the growing competiveness of wheat from the EU-27.

At the projected 174.2 million tons, global stocks remain 46 million tons above the recent low in 2007-08.

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About the Author(s)

Elton Robinson 1

Editor, Delta Farm Press

Elton joined Delta Farm Press in March 1993, and was named editor of the publication in July 1997. He writes about agriculture-related issues for cotton, corn, soybean, rice and wheat producers in west Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and southeast Missouri. Elton worked as editor of a weekly community newspaper and wrote for a monthly cotton magazine prior to Delta Farm Press. Elton and his wife, Stephony, live in Atoka, Tenn., 30 miles north of Memphis. They have three grown sons, Ryan Robinson, Nick Gatlin and Will Gatlin.

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