Crop
Production
                                                                               
National Agricultural Statistics Service
USDA
Washington, D.C.
                                                                               
Released September 11, 2009, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For
information on "Crop Production" call  (202) 720-2127, office hours 7:30 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. ET.
                                                                               
               Corn Production Up 2 Percent from August Forecast               
                        Soybean Production Up 1 Percent                        
                         Cotton Production Up 2 Percent                        
                                                                               
Corn production is forecast at 13.0 billion bushels, up 2 percent from last
month and 7 percent higher than 2008.  Based on conditions as of September 1,
yields are expected to average 161.9 bushels per acre, up 2.4 bushels from
August and 8.0 bushels above last year.  If realized, this will be the
highest yield on record and production will be the second largest, behind
2007.  Yield forecasts increased from last month across the western Corn Belt
and the northern half of the Great Plains as mild temperatures and adequate
soil moisture supplies provided favorable growing conditions.  Yield
prospects were unchanged in the eastern Corn Belt where dry conditions during
August depleted soil moisture supplies.
                                                                               
Soybean production is forecast at a record high 3.25 billion bushels, up
1 percent from the August forecast and up 10 percent from last year.  Based
on September 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 42.3 bushels per
acre, up 0.6 bushel from last month and up 2.7 bushels from 2008.  If
realized, this will be the third highest yield on record.  Compared with last
month, yields are forecast higher or unchanged in all States except Indiana,
where the yield is expected to be down 2 bushels.  The largest increases in
yield from the August forecast are expected in Alabama and Maryland, up 5 and
6 bushels, respectively.  If realized, the forecasted yield in Alabama,
Georgia, and Mississippi will be a record high and the forecasted yield in
Nebraska, North Carolina, and Ohio will tie the previous record high.  Area
for harvest in the U.S. is forecast at 76.8 million acres, up slightly from
June and up 3 percent from 2008.
                                                                               
All Cotton production is forecast at 13.4 million 480-pound bales, up
2 percent from last month and up 5 percent from last year.  Upland cotton
production is forecast at 13.1 million 480-pound bales, up 2 percent from
last month and up 6 percent from last year.  Producers in the Southeast and
Delta regions are expecting increased yields from last month.  Upland growers
in Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee are expecting
record high yields.  The American-Pima production forecast, at 367,000 bales,
was carried forward from last month.
                                                                               
California navel orange production for the 2009-10 season is forecast at
40.0 million boxes (1.50 million tons), up 16 percent from last season's
revised production of 34.5 million boxes (1.29 million tons).  This initial
forecast is based on an objective measurement survey conducted in
California's Central Valley in July and August.  Survey results show that
average fruit set per tree is below average but 45 percent higher than last
year's record low set.  Fruit size is average and fruit quality is expected
to be good.
                                                                               
This report was approved on September 11, 2009.
                                                                               
                              Acting Secretary of                              
                                  Agriculture                                  
                                James W. Miller                                
                                                                               
                         Agricultural Statistics Board                         
                                  Chairperson                                  
                                 Carol C. House    

for the full report visitt:  http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/crop0909.txt