WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture in its Sept. 12 Crop Production report forecast 2019 U.S. production of corn at 13,799 million bus, down 101,500,000 bus, or 0.7%, from the August forecast and down 4.3% from 2018. Soybean production was forecast at 3,633 million bus, down 47,566,000 bus, or 1.1%, from August and down 20% from 2018.

Average corn yield, based on Sept. 1 conditions, was forecast at 168.2 bus an acre, down 1.3 bus, or 0.8%, from August and down 8.2 bus, or 4.7%, from 176.4 bus per acre in 2018. Corn harvested area was forecast at 82 million acres, unchanged from August and up slightly from 2018.

The average soybean yield was forecast at 47.9 bus an acre, down 0.6 bu, or 1.2%, from August and down 3.7 bus, or 7%, from 51.6 bus per acre last year. Harvested area was forecast at 75.9 million acres, unchanged from August but down 14% from 2018.

If realized, corn production would be the lowest since 13,602 million bus in 2015. Record high production of 15,148 million bus was harvested in 2016. Soybean production would be the lowest since 3,357 million bus in 2013 with record high outturn of 4,544 million bus in 2018.

U.S. soybean production chart

The U.S.D.A. corn and soybean production and yield forecasts all were above the average of trade expectations but were within the full range of trade forecasts.

Chicago corn futures were up about 5c a bu and soybean futures were sharply higher, up 20c per bu or more, immediately after the 11:00 a.m. Central time release of the U.S.D.A. data.

Wheat production estimates are not updated in the September crop report and will next be revised in the U.S.D.A.’s Sept. 30 Small Grains Summary.