Storms Don’t Destroy ’08 Crop Bounty

An economic downturn, floods in the Midwest, hurricanes in the South, and drought-like conditions in various areas of the United States made 2008 one of the most volatile years in history for the agriculture industry. In spite of all the challenges U.S. growers produced an abundant corn and soybean crop, according to the 2008 Crop Production Summary released Monday by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Following last year’s record corn production, the 2008 crop was the second largest in history. Corn produced for grain was 12.1 billion bushels, which is down 7 percent from 2007’s 13.04 billion bushels. NASS estimates the average corn yield at 153.9 bushels per acre, up 3.2 bushels from last year and the second-highest on record.

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The 2008 soybean crop production was up 11 percent over the previous year. 2008 crop was the fourth largest crop on record. The average yield, however, is estimated at 2.1 bushels down 39.6 bushels as compared to last year.

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Visit www.nass.usda.gov to view the entire 2008 Crop Production Summary.

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