Another excellent crop is expected for Nebraska, according to a new report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Thursday.

Based on August 1 conditions, Nebraska’s corn crop is forecast at 1.54 billion bushels, 2 percent below last year’s record production but still the second largest of record, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office.

According to the USDA,  harvested for grain, at 8.55 million acres, is down 3 percent from a year ago. Yield is forecast at a record high 180 bushels per acre, 2 bushels above the previous high set last year.

“Above normal rainfall throughout much of the growing season has benefitted dryland areas, resulting in excellent yield prospects. This combined with irrigated corn prospects which are above historic norms has contributed to the excellent yield forecast,” said Joseph Parsons, Director of the Nebraska Field Office.

Nationwide, the USDA said that corn production is forecast at a record high 13.4 billion bushels, up 2 percent from the previous record set in 2009. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average a record high 165.0 bushels per acre, up 0.3 bushel from last year’s record of 164.7.

According to the report, soybean production in Nebraska is forecast at 284 million bushels, 9 percent above last year and highest of record. Area for harvest, at 5.35 million acres, is up 12 percent from 2009. Yield is forecast at 53 bushels per acre, down 1.5 bushels from last year’s high but still the second largest of record.

According to the USDA, forecasted yields are higher than last year across the upper Mississippi Valley and upper Great Lakes region where moderate temperatures and adequate soil moisture provided favorable growing conditions. Expected yields, according to the report, were also higher compared with last year across the southern Great Plains and lower Mississippi Valley.
Yield prospects are lower in both the Atlantic Coast region and Tennessee Valley due to above normal temperatures and dry conditions, according to the USDA.

Nationwide, the USDA reported soybean production is forecast at a record high 3.43 billion bushels, up 2 percent from last year. Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 44.0 bushels per acre, unchanged from last year’s record high yield.

Compared with last year, the USDA said yields are forecast higher across the northern tier States, with increases of 4 bushels or more in Minnesota, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

The largest increase in yield from 2009, according to the USDA,  is expected in Texas, where the yield is forecast to be up 9 bushels from last year. In addition, increases are expected in the Delta States.

With the exceptions of Illinois and South Carolina, USDA said yields are forecast down or unchanged across the central part of the soybean growing region, extending from the central Great Plains to the East Coast and down into the Southeast.

The Mid-Atlantic States, the report said, are expecting the largest declines from last year, asDelaware, Maryland, and Virginia are all expecting yields to be down more than 10 bushels from 2009 due to very hot and dry weather this summer.

If realized, the USDA said the forecasted yield in New York will be a record high and the forecasted yield in Arkansas will tie the previous record high.

Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at 78.0 million acres, unchanged from June but up 2 percent from 2009, according to the USDA.

The report said Nebraska’s 2010 winter wheat crop is forecast at 68.4 million bushels, down 2 percent from last month’s forecast and 11 percent below last year’s crop. Area for grain, at 1.52 million acres, is unchanged from last month but 5 percent below last year. Yield is forecast at 45 bushels per acre, down 1 bushel from last month and 3 bushels below last year’s record high.

Other highlights from the report:

* Sorghum yield is forecast at 94 bushels per acre, up 1 bushel from last year. Production is forecast at 6.1 million bushels, down 53 percent from a year ago, a result of fewer acres planted.

* Oat yield is forecast at 70 bushels per acre, 1 bushel above last year. Production of 2.1 million bushels is 1 percent above last year.

* Dry edible bean production is up 48 percent from last year, largely due to more acres planted. Sugarbeet production is down 13 percent from 2009.

* Alfalfa hay production is forecast to be 4 percent above last year and all other hay production is unchanged.