According to a recent “Crop Production” report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), U.S. farmers are on the path to producing a record-high soybean crop in 2017.
Compared to 2016, forecasted numbers are up two percent; soybean production is predicted to reach 4.38 billion bushels. Soybean harvest area is forecasted at 88.7 million acres, which is a seven percent increase from last year. Planted area for soybeans is on target to reach a record-high of 89.5 million acres.
“Favorable conditions early in the spring allowed soybean planting to begin in many parts of the nation by the third week of April,” wrote the authors of the report. “Planting was underway by the start of May in all 18 major soybean-producing states. Fourteen percent of the crop was planted by May 7, seven percentage points behind last year and 3 percentage points behind of the 5-year average. Eighty-three percent of the soybean crop was planted by June 4, four percentage points ahead of the 5-year average.”
By July 30, about 82 percent of soybean crops were at the blooming stage. This is two percent behind last year, but two percent above the five-year average.
This year, record soybean yields are projected for Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
To compile this data, NASS surveyed more than 21,000 producers across the country. For more information and a copy of the report, visit www.nass.usda.gov.