Pro Farmer Predicts Record Yields

Pro Farmer estimates a 14.8-billion-bushel corn crop, with an average yield of 177.5 bushels-per-acre. For soybeans, Pro Farmer estimates a 4.3-billion-bushel crop with an average yield of 52.5 bushels-per-acre. Pro Farmer released the projections Friday following its annual Midwestern Crop Tour. Both corn and soybean yield estimates would be record crops, but not as big as projected by the Department of Agriculture earlier this month. Pro Farmer trimmed 525,000 from harvested acres, 300,000 coming from Iowa. The Iowa cut stems from the derecho (der-ray-cho) storm that destroyed crops this month, but the bigger concern for the state is drought. Pro Farmer pegged Iowa corn yields at 180 bushels-per-acre, and soybeans at 55 bushels-per-acre. The week long tour found Illinois has the best-projected corn yield at 205 bushels-per-acre, and the top projected soybean yield at 62 bushels-per-acre. The tour samples corn and soybean crops in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota.