Reports Show National Corn Production Up

Nov 04, 2024


Rows of corn in a field.
According to the Crop Production report issued today by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), corn production is forecast at 15.2 billion bushels, up less than 1% from the previous forecast, but down 1% from last year; soybean growers are expected to increase their production 10% from 2023, forecast at 4.58 billion bushels.
 
Based on conditions as of Oct. 1, corn yields are expected to average 183.8 bushels per harvested acre, up 0.2 bushel from the previous forecast and up 6.5 bushels from 2023. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 82.7 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast.
 
Also based on conditions as of Oct. 1, soybean yields are expected to average 53.1 bushels per acre, down 0.1 bushel from the previous forecast, but up 2.5 bushels from 2023. Area harvested for beans in the United States is forecast at 86.3 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast, but up 5% from 2023.
 
Today’s report also included a production forecast for U.S. cotton. All cotton production is forecast at 14.2 million 480-pound bales, down 2% from the previous forecast, but up 18% from 2023. Based on conditions as of Oct. 1, yields are expected to average 789 pounds per harvested acre, down 18 pounds from the previous forecast and down 110 pounds from 2023. Upland cotton production is forecast at 13.7 million 480-pound bales, down 2% from the previous forecast, but up 16% from 2023. Pima cotton production is forecast at 516,000 bales, down 6% from the previous forecast, but up 63% from 2023. All cotton area harvested is forecast at 8.63 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast, but up 34% from 2023.
 
Objective yield and farm operator surveys were conducted between September 24 and October 7 to gather information on expected yield as of Oct. 1. The objective yield surveys for corn, cotton, and soybeans were conducted in the major producing states that usually account for about 75% of U.S. production. Randomly selected plots were revisited to make current counts.
 
The farm operator survey was conducted primarily by telephone with some use of mail, internet, and personal enumeration. Approximately 7,500 producers were contacted during the survey period and asked questions about probable yield. The Crop Production report is published monthly and is available online at nass.usda.gov/Publications.
 

Read More News

Jun 10, 2026
Following the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement that a confirmed case of New World screwworm (NWS) was detected in Zavala County, Texas, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is taking steps to protect livestock from the potential spread of this invasive pest.
Jun 01, 2026

Leah Anderson, Chair of the GreenPoint Ag Board of Managers, announced May 21 that the board has selected Amy Winstead as the next Chief Executive Officer of GreenPoint Ag.

“Following a thorough and intentional search process, the board is confident Amy is the right leader to guide GreenPoint Ag into its next chapter,” said Anderson. “She brings a strong combination of operational leadership, strategic vision, and servant leadership that aligns exceptionally well with the mission and future of our company.”

May 04, 2026
U.S. farmers are entering the 2026 planting season with cautious optimism, guided by the USDA’s Prospective Plantings report released March 31, 2026. The report indicates that while major national acreage shifts were limited, subtle changes — particularly stronger-than-expected corn retention and modest soybean expansion — carry meaningful implications for Tennessee producers as spring planting accelerates.