WASHINGTON – Harvest of a forecast record large US corn crop was under way but slightly behind average in most key Corn Belt states as of Sept. 11, the US Dept. of Agriculture said in its weekly Crop Progress report.
Corn in the 18 major states was 5 percent harvested as of Sept. 11, just ahead of 4 percent at the same time last year but behind 7 percent as the 2011-15 average for the date, the USDA said. One percent of the crop was harvested in top-producing Iowa, compared with none at the same time last year and 3 percent as the average for the date. Harvest in No. 2 producer Illinois was 3 percent completed, behind 5 percent last year and 7 percent as the average. Corn harvested in Indiana was 3 percent (3 percent average), Nebraska 1 percent (4 percent average) and Missouri 18 percent (21 percent average). Harvest as of Sept. 11 had not yet begun in Ohio (1 percent average), Minnesota (1 percent average) or Wisconsin (zero average).
The 18-state average was boosted by southern states, with harvest in North Carolina at 66 percent, Texas at 58 percent, Tennessee at 38 percent and Kentucky at 27 percent, all at or above the average pace for the date.
The USDA on Sept. 12 forecast US corn production at a record 15,093 million bushels, based on a record average yield of 174.4 bushels an acre and harvested area at 86.6 million acres.
