Kansas Corn Crop Forecast Larger than Last Year

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – The government’s first corn production forecast of the season anticipates a good 2015 harvest in Kansas.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Wednesday that it projects the state’s corn production to come in at 570 million bushels. If realized, that is 1 percent above last year’s production.

Their upbeat forecast comes despite 1 percent fewer anticipated harvested acres than a year ago. The agency estimates 3.75 million acres will be harvested, but higher yields will more than make up for the fewer acres.

Corn yields are forecast at 152 bushels per acre, up 3 bushels from a year ago.

Sorghum production in Kansas is anticipated to be up 15 percent to 229 million bushels.

This year’s soybean crop is forecast to come in at 133 million bushels, down 7 percent.