ne-press-release -*-*-*- NEWS RELEASE -*-*-*- ISSUED: October 12, 2001 by: NEBRASKA Agricultural Statistics Service P.O. Box 81069 Location: 273 Federal Bldg Lincoln, NE 68501 Phone: (402) 437-5541 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nebraska Department of Agriculture USDA, National Ag Statistics Service Merlyn Carlson, Director William G. Hamlin, State Statistician ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CORN PRODUCTION UNCHANGED FROM SEPTEMBER SOYBEAN PRODUCTION RECORD HIGH Lincoln, NE: October 12, 2001: Corn production in Nebraska based on conditions as of October 1 is forecast at 1.09 billion bushels, unchanged from last month but 7 percent above 2000, according to USDA's Nebraska Agricultural Statistics Service. The increase in production over 2000 is attributed to improved moisture conditions this year. Acreage to be harvested for grain, at 7.9 million acres, is down 2 percent from last year. Average yield is forecast at 138 bushels per acre, unchanged from the September forecast, 12 bushels above last year, but seven bushels below the record high 1998 crop. Ears per acre are the lowest since 1997, limiting yield potential. The State forecast yield is eight bushels above the 10-year average. Irrigated corn production is forecast to yield 159 bushels per acre, up five bushels from last year. The 2001 irrigated acreage for harvest represents 57 percent of the total corn acreage and accounts for 66 percent of the total corn for grain production forecast. Dryland corn yield is forecast at 110 bushels per acre, 26 bushels above last year. Significant dryland yield improvements over last year were noted in most regions of the State, except the East Central District, where rainfall during July and August was below normal. Soybean production on Nebraska farms is forecast at a record high 212 million bushels, 22 percent above last year and 18 percent above the previous record set in 1999. A record high planted acreage of 4.9 million is up 5 percent from last year or 250,000 acres. Acres for harvest at 4.825 million are also a record high. Yield is forecast at 44 bushels per acre, up 3 bushels from September and up 6 bushels from 2000. Sorghum yield is forecast at 88 bushels per acre, up 18 bushels from last year, with a production forecast of 39.6 million bushels. Sunflower production of 81.6 million pounds, is up 26 percent from last year. Sugar beet production of 931 thousand tons is down 16 percent from 2000. Dry edible bean production, at 2.86 million cwt., is down 11 percent from last year. Alfalfa hay production is forecast at 5.2 million tons, up 25 percent from last year and all other hay production is up 30 percent. See accompanying supplement for crop district estimates. NEWS RELEASE - OCTOBER 12, 2001 SUPPLEMENT ACREAGE, YIELD AND PRODUCTION BY NEBRASKA AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS, 2000-2001 1 District CORN FOR GRAIN Planted Harvested Yield Production 2000 2001 2000 2001 2000 2001 2000 2001 1,000 acres Bushels 1,000 bushels Northwest 395.0 355.0 361.0 330.0 121.7 127.0 43,927.9 41,910.0 North 360.0 345.0 316.5 320.0 137.9 140.0 43,639.4 44,800.0 Northeast1,555.0 1,505.0 1,483.5 1,445.0112.2 131.0 166,507.7 189,295.0 Central 1,135.0 1,115.0 1,051.5 1,070.0138.0 150.0 145,146.4 160,500.0 East 2,045.0 1,950.0 1,986.0 1,900.0127.5 132.2 253,256.8 251,085.0 Southwest 985.0 970.0 891.5 920.0 128.7 141.0 114,736.3 129,720.0 South 890.0 850.0 852.0 830.0 138.5 151.0 118,034.9 125,330.0 Southeast1,135.0 1,110.0 1,108.0 1,085.0116.5 136.0 129,050.6 147,560.0 NEBRASKA 8,500.0 8,200.0 8,050.0 7,900.0126.0 138.0 1,014,300.0 1,090,200.0 District SOYBEANS FOR BEANS Planted Harvested Yield Production 2000 2001 2000 2001 2000 2001 2000 2001 1,000 acres Bushels 1,000 bushels Northwest 4.0 5.0 3.0 4.0 30.7 35.0 92.0 140.0 North 163.0 170.0 157.0 165.0 46.6 47.0 7,314.0 7,755.0 Northeast1,199.0 1,235.0 1,190.0 1,220.0 36.5 43.9 43,395.0 53,546.0 Central 282.0 300.0 262.0 295.0 39.8 47.0 10,438.5 13,865.0 East 1,483.0 1,570.0 1,468.0 1,550.0 39.1 41.0 57,436.5 63,550.0 Southwest 85.0 100.0 80.0 96.0 40.2 44.0 3,216.0 4,224.0 South 400.0 440.0 390.0 430.0 48.3 52.0 18,818.0 22,360.0 Southeast1,034.0 1,080.0 1,025.0 1,065.0 32.3 44.0 33,140.0 46,860.0 NEBRASKA 4,650.0 4,900.0 4,575.0 4,825.0 38.0 44.0 173,850.0 212,300.0 District SORGHUM FOR GRAIN Planted Harvested Yield Production 2000 2001 2000 2001 2000 2001 2000 2001 1,000 acres Bushels 1,000 bushels Northwest 8.8 8.0 2.2 2.0 40.7 48.0 89.5 96.0 North 13.0 13.0 2.3 4.0 45.9 70.0 105.5 280.0 Northeast 6.2 12.0 1.5 4.0 68.5 75.0 102.8 300.0 Central 30.0 32.0 7.1 8.0 61.7 65.0 438.2 520.0 East 58.0 52.0 53.8 49.0 87.1 78.0 4,684.3 3,822.0 Southwest 54.0 58.0 33.8 33.0 48.1 74.0 1,625.5 2,442.0 South 90.0 80.0 76.6 70.0 69.1 95.0 5,289.8 6,650.0 Southeast 340.0 295.0 322.7 280.0 70.2 91.0 22,664.4 25,490.0 NEBRASKA 600.0 550.0 500.0 450.0 70.0 88.0 35,000.0 39,600.0 1 Preliminary estimates 2000 and forecast as of October 1, 2001. Planted acres are for all purposes.