Checking on the Corn
Posted: July 27, 2009
USDA is doing a double-check on the corn crop before issuing the next crop report.
In response to variable weather conditions in key crop-growing regions, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is collecting updated information on 2009 acres planted to corn and sorghum prior to the August Crop Production report.
The June 30 Acreage report included estimates of 2009 planted area for principal crops, based on data collected from producers in early June. To ensure that the August forecasts accurately reflect any changes in planted acreage since June, NASS will expand its routine data collection activities in late July and early August. The agency will ask growers to update their reported acres planted to corn in seven states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Growers in Illinois and Missouri will also be asked to update their reported acres planted to sorghum.
The forecast now is calling for the second biggest corn crop, but there are some in the industry who think we may well be on the way to a record breaker if the weather cooperates. We shall see. The August crop report will be released at 8:30 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 12.