Based on August 1 conditions, the US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates the corn and soybean crops in South Dakota will be substantially larger than last year.
The 2020 corn crop is forecast at 822 million bushels, up 47% from last year. Acreage harvested for grain is estimated at 4.92 million acres, up 27% from a year ago. Average yield is forecast at a record 167 bushels per acre, up 23 bushels from last year.
Soybean production is forecast at a record 258 million bushels, 76% above last year. Area for harvest, at 5.15 million acres, is up 50% from 2019. Yield is forecast at a record 50 bushels per acre, up 7.5 bushels from last year.
South Dakota’s 2020 winter wheat crop is forecast at 34.8 million bushels, down 13% from last year’s crop. Harvested acreage is estimated at 580,000 acres, down 25% from a year ago. Average yield is forecast at a record 60 bushels per acre, up 8 bushels from last year.
Spring wheat production is forecast at 36.7 million bushels, up 41% from last year. Harvested acreage is estimated at 815,000 acres, up 35% from a year ago. The yield, forecast at 45 bushels per acre, is up 2 bushels from last year.
Oat production, at 9.78 million bushels, is up 59% from last year. Harvested acreage is estimated at 115,000 acres, up 53% from a year ago. The yield is forecast at 85 bushels per acre, up 3 bushels from last year.
Sorghum yield is forecast at a record 86 bushels per acre, up 6 bushels from last year. Harvested acreage is estimated at 120,000 acres, down 31% from a year ago. Production of 10.3 million bushels is down 26% from a year ago.
Alfalfa hay production is forecast at 4.07 million tons, down 9% from last year. Harvested acreage is estimated at 1.85 million acres, down 3% from 2019. Expected yield, at 2.20 tons per acre, is down 0.15 ton from last year. All other hay production is forecast at 2.70 million tons, up 6% from last year. Harvested acreage is estimated at 1.50 million acres, up 3% from a year ago. Expected yield, at 1.80 tons per acre, is up 0.05 ton from last year.
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