AccuWeather: Corn Yield Likely to Be Lower Than USDA Projections

By CnAgri2012-07-17 19:06:24 Print

AccuWeather.com says the ongoing drought and Corn Belt disaster is likely to further drive down yields in the U.S. for 2012. Despite the most acres of corn planted since the 1930s and high expectations this spring by the USDA for this year's crop, the 2012 yield is likely to be even lower than current official government forecasts.

In June, the USDA was projecting a record 166 bushels of corn per acre to be harvest this fall.

That projected yield has been pushed down to 146 bushels per acre as of mid-July.

AccuWeather.com agricultural meteorologists expect this figure is likely to go lower and are projecting the yield to be around 138 bushels per acre.

The lower yield compared to the USDA projection is based on AccuWeather's forecast of ongoing heat and drought conditions in areas from southern Illinois westward to Missouri, Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, southern Wisconsin and southwestern Minnesota.

While some rain has fallen on part of the corn belt recently, not enough rain fell on a broad area since July 13 to make much of a difference in long-term yields.

Central Minnesota was one of a few areas holding its own in terms of weather and expected output in the Corn Belt. A few locations in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana received an inch of rain spanning July 13 to 15. However, the rain was expected and was indeed spotty as forecast.

The majority of places in the Corn Belt received one-quarter of an inch of rain or less over the weekend. A new heat wave and lack of rain was hitting corn and soybean growing areas in the Midwest the week of July 16, adding to the worst drought and impact since 1988.

Meanwhile, the corn futures market this week was fluctuating near the record at approximately $8 per bushel. This, in turn, will translate to higher prices for the ingredients that make up much of food supply from animal feed to processed products for human consumption.