WASHINGTON — U.S. 2011 corn production was estimated at 12,358,412,000 bus, up slightly from 12,309,936,000 bus forecast in November but down 1% from 12,446,865,000 bus in 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its annual Crop Production 2011 Summary today. Soybean production was estimated at 3,056,032,000 bus, also up slightly from 3,045,558,000 bus in November but down 8% from 3,329,181,000 bus last year.
Both U.S.D.A. production numbers were above the average of pre-report trade estimates of 12,280 million bus for corn and 3,042 million bus for soybeans.
Average corn yield was estimated at 147.2 bus an acre, up 0.5 bus from 146.7 bus an acre in November but down 5.6 bus from 152.8 bus an acre as the final 2010 average yield. Harvested area was estimated at 83.9 million acres, up slightly from November and up 3% from 81.4 million acres in 2010.
Soybean yield was estimated at 41.5 bus an acre, up 0.2 bus from 41.3 bus an acre in November but down 2 bus from 43.5 bus an acre in 2010. Harvested area was estimated at 73.6 million acres, down slightly from November and down 4% from 76.6 million acres in 2010.
The U.S.D.A. yield numbers were above the average trade forecast of 146.4 bus an acre for corn and 41.3 bus for soybeans.
Grain sorghum production in 2011 was estimated at 214,443,000 bus, down 13% from 245,909,000 bus in November and down 38% from 345,625,000 bus in 2010, the U.S.D.A. said. Harvested area of 3.93 million acres was down 18% from 2010 and the lowest since 1936.
U.S. 2011 rice production was estimated at 185,009,000 cwts, down 2% from 188,069,000 cwts forecast earlier and down 24% from 243,104,000 cwts in 2010.