Consultant releases initial U.S. corn, bean crop forecasts

Crop Consultant Dr. Michael Cordonnier expects the U.S. to plant 91.5 million acres to corn this year. With harvested acreage at 83.5 million acres and a yield of 180 bu. per acres that would produce a crop of 15.03 billion bushels. Cordonnier reduced his corn plantings from USDA’s March intentions of 92 million acres and also cut the yield 1.4 bu. per acre from trendline.

He expects soybean plantings to reach 88.0 million acres. With harvested acreage of 87.1 million acres and a trendline yield of 52 bu. per acre that would produce a crop of 4.53 billion bushels. Cordonnier raised his soybean plantings forecast 500,000 acres from USDA’s March intentions, noting some intended corn acres could get switched to soybeans. He used a trendline yield.