2015 Crop Production Summary: Soybean production set record

Corn for grain production is estimated at 13.6 billion bushels, down slightly from the November forecast and down 4 percent from the 2014 estimate. The average yield in the United States is estimated at 168.4 bushels per acre. This is down 0.9 bushel from the November forecast and 2.6 bushels below the 2014 average yield of 171.0 bushels per acre. Area harvested for grain is estimated at 80.7 million acres, up slightly from the November forecast but down 3 percent from the 2014 acreage.

Sorghum grain production in 2015 is estimated at 597 million bushels, up slightly from the November forecast and up 38 percent from the 2014 total. Planted area for 2015 is estimated at 8.46 million acres, up 19 percent from the previous year. Area harvested for grain, at 7.85 million acres, is up 23 percent from 2014. Average grain yield, at 76.0 bushels per acre, is down 1.7 bushels from the previous forecast but up 8.4 bushels from 2014 and represents a record high yield for the United States.

Rice: Production in 2015 is estimated at 192 million cwt, up less than 1 percent from the previous forecast but down 13 percent from the revised 2014 total. Planted area for 2014 is estimated at 2.61 million acres, down 12 percent from 2014. Area harvested, at 2.58 million acres, is also down 12 percent from the previous crop year. The average yield for all United States rice is estimated at 7,470 pounds per acre, up 47 pounds from the previous forecast but 106 pounds below the 2014 United States average of 7,576 pounds per acre. A record high yield is estimated for California.

Soybean production in 2015 totaled a record 3.93 billion bushels, down 1 percent from the November forecast but up slightly from 2014. The average yield per acre is estimated at a record high 48.0 bushels, 0.3 bushel below the November forecast but 0.5 bushel above the 2014 yield. Harvested area is down less than 1 percent from last year's record acreage to 81.8 million acres.

All cotton production is estimated at 12.9 million 480-pound bales, down less than 1 percent from the December forecast and down 21 percent from 2014. The United States yield is estimated at 769 pounds per acre, up 1 pound from the December forecast but down 69 pounds from last year. Harvested area, at 8.08 million acres, is down less than 1 percent from the December forecast and down 14 percent from last year.