North Dakota corn crop could be off by millions

Estimates for the North Dakota corn crop could be off by as much as 20 million bushels
Estimates for the North Dakota corn crop could be off by as much as 20 million bushels
The federal government estimated North Dakota corn production at 285 million bushels for 2008, but the count may be off by as much as 20 million bushels because of crops left in the field that may never be harvested.

The problem is the heavy rain and show at the end of 2008 which kept farmers in the eastern part of the state from harvesting about 10 percent of the total crop.

Experts say a percentage of the crop that was left in the field will be able to be harvested, but weather will likely cause much of the harvest to be lost - about 20 million bushels, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

However, because the North Dakota corn crop accounts for such a small percentage of the international market, even a 10 percent drop in estimate is unlikely to have a major effect.

And this year's problems are unlikely to have an effect on future corn crops.

"If you look at profit potential, corn is still the most profitable crop," Tom Lilja executive director of the North Dakota Corn Growers Association, told the Associated Press. "Overall, if a producer has been into corn now for a couple years and they see the potential yield and the potential profits, I don't think they'll cut back that much." ADNFCR-2034-ID-18983406-ADNFCR