LINCOLN, Neb. September 12, 2018 – Based on September 1 conditions, Nebraska’s
2018 corn crop is forecast at 1.85 billion bushels, up 10 percent from last year’s production,
according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Area harvested for grain, at
9.35 million acres, is up 1 percent from a year ago. Average yield is forecast at 198 bushels per
acre, up 17 bushels from last year. Both yield and production are new record highs if realized.
Soybean production is forecast at 338 million bushels, up 4 percent from last year. Area for
harvest, at 5.45 million acres, is down 4 percent from 2017. Yield is forecast at 62 bushels per
acre, up 4.5 bushels from a year ago. Both yield and production are new record highs if realized.
Sorghum for grain production of 15.8 million bushels is up 32 percent from a year ago. Area
for harvest, at 155,000 acres, is up 15 percent from 2017. Yield is forecast at 102 bushels per
acre, up 13 bushels from last year, and a record high if realized.
Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.52 million tons, up 6 percent from 2017. Area for harvest,
at 44,400 acres, is down 2 percent from last year. Yield is forecast at 34.3 tons per acre, up
2.5 tons from a year ago, and a record high if realized.
Dry edible pea production is forecast at 1.14 million cwt, up 44 percent from a year ago. Area
for harvest, at 52,000 acres, is down 7 percent from 2017. Yield is forecast at 2,200 pounds per
acre, up 780 pounds from last year.