According to the Crop Production Report issued today by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), U.S. corn production is expected to be down, while soybean and cotton production is up from 2023.
Corn production is forecast to be down 1% from last year at 15.2 billion bushels, while soybean growers are expected to increase their production 10% from 2023, forecast at 4.59 billion bushels. Cotton production is forecast to be up 20% from 2023 at 14.5 million 480-pound bales.
As is done every year in September, planted and harvested acreage estimates for corn, cotton, and soybeans were reviewed based on all available data, including the latest certified acreage data from the Farm Service Agency. As a result, area planted to corn is estimated at 90.7 million acres, unchanged from the previous estimate; area planted to soybeans is estimated at 87.1 million acres, unchanged from the previous estimate; and area planted to cotton is estimated at 11.2 million acres, up slightly from the previous estimate.
NASS surveyed more than 6,900 producers across the country and conducted objective yield surveys for corn and soybeans in preparation for this report.