National Agricultural Statistics Service

LOUISVILLE (Aug. 10, 2018) — The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) August Crop Production report shows that Kentucky soybean production is forecast to be 8 percent higher than 2017. This month’s report is the first of the season to forecast row crop production.

“Soybean conditions looked good going into August, but the soybeans need more rain for further crop development,” said David Knopf, director of the NASS Eastern Mountain Regional Office in Kentucky. “The growing season for most of Kentucky has had below normal temperatures and rainfall. Rainfall has been especially short towards the end of July. By August 5, the soybean crop was rated 71 percent good to excellent.”

Soybean production for Kentucky is forecast at 111 million bushels, up 8 percent from 2017. Yield is estimated at 53.0 bushels per acre, unchanged bushels from a year ago. Acreage for harvest as beans was estimated at 2.09 million acres, up 150,000 acres from the previous year. U.S. soybean production is forecast at 4.59 billion bushels, up 4 percent from last year. Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 51.6 bushels per acre, up 2.5 bushels from last year. Area for harvest is forecast at 88.9 million acres, down 1 percent from 2017.

Corn production in Kentucky is forecast at 212 million bushels, down 2 percent from the previous crop. Yield is estimated at 175 bushels per acre, down 3 bushels from the 2017 level. Acres for harvest as grain were estimated at 1.21 million acres, down 10,000 acres from 2017. The U.S. corn production is forecast at 14.6 billion bushels, down slightly from 2017. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 178.4 bushels per acre, up 1.8 bushels from 2017. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 81.8 million acres, unchanged from the June forecast but down 1 percent from 2017.

“After a late start to planting, corn has been growing near or ahead of normal. On August 5, 58 percent of the crop was in dough stage,” Knopf added. “Condition ratings during the growing season have been mostly good and excellent. The latest rating was 72 percent good to excellent.”

Kentucky farmers expect to harvest 23.1 million bushels of winter wheat during 2018. The expected crop for 2018 would be down 3 percent from the previous year. Growers expect a yield of 66.0 bushels per acre, down 11.0 bushel from 2017 and up 1.0 bushels from July. Winter wheat production for the nation was forecast at 1.19 billion bushels, down 6 percent from 2017. The United States yield is forecast at 47.9 bushels per acre, down 0.1 bushels from last month and down 2.3 bushels from last year. The expected area to be harvested for grain or seed totals 24.8 million acres, down 2 percent from last year.