Corn for grain production in South Dakota based on year-end surveys is estimated at a record high 884 million bushels, up 3% from 2023, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. A record high yield of 164 bushels per acre is up 12 bushels from last year. Farmers harvested 5.39 million acres of corn for grain down 4% from 2023.
Corn for silage production is 6.15 million tons, down 30% from 2023. Yield of 15.0 tons per acre is down 2.0 tons from last year. Farmers harvested 410,000 acres, down 21% from 2023. Total acreage planted to corn for all purposes is 5.90 million acres, down 6% from last year.
Soybean production for 2024 totaled 231 million bushels, up 4% from 2023. Yield, at 43.0 bushels per acre, is down 1.0 bushel from a year earlier. Area for harvest, at 5.38 million acres, is up 6% from 2023. Total acreage planted is 5.45 million acres, up 7% from last year.
Sorghum for grain production in 2024 is estimated at 23.2 million bushels, down 8% from 2023. Yield, at 76.0 bushels per acre, is down 14.0 bushels from a year earlier. Area harvested for grain, at 305,000 acres, is up 9% from 2023. Sorghum for silage production is 748,000 tons, up 92% from 2023. Yield of 12.0 tons per acre is down 1.5 tons from last year. Farmers harvested 65,000 acres, up 117% from 2023. Total acreage planted to sorghum for all purposes is 420,000 acres, up 25% from last year.
Oil sunflower production in 2024 is 401 million pounds, down 45% from last year. Yield, at 1,700 pounds per acre, is up 50 pounds from a year earlier. Area harvested, at 236,000 acres, is down 46% from 2023. Total acreage planted is 245,000 acres, down 46% from last year.
Non-oil sunflower production of 65.1 million pounds is down 29% from last year. Yield, at 2,100 pounds per acre, is down 300 pounds from a year earlier. Area harvested, at 31,000 acres, is down 18% from 2023. Total acreage planted is 34,000 acres, down 15% from last year.
Proso millet production in 2024 is estimated at 966,000 bushels, down 69% from last year’s production. Yield, at 46.0 bushels per acre, is up 1.0 bushel from a year earlier. Area harvested for grain, at 21,000 acres, is down 70% from 2023. Total acreage planted is 26,000 acres, down 65% from last year.
Safflower production is estimated at a record low 6.38 million pounds, down 65% from 2023. Yield per harvested acre is estimated at 850 pounds, down 250 pounds from last year. Acres harvested are estimated at 7,500, down 55% from a year ago. Total acreage planted is 8,100 acres, down 52% from last year.
Alfalfa hay production, at 3.48 million tons, is down 12% from a year earlier. The average yield, at 2.40 tons per acre, is up 0.05 ton per acre from 2023. Area harvested, at 1.45 million acres, is down 14% from 2023. Alfalfa haylage and greenchop at 240,000 tons, is down 43% from a year earlier. Average yield, at 4.00 tons per acre, is down 1.30 tons per acre from 2023 Area harvested, at 60,000 acres, is down 25% from 2023. Seedings of alfalfa during 2024 totaled 110,000 acres, up 15,000 acres from the year earlier.
All other hay production, at 2.36 million tons, is up 10% from a year earlier. The average yield, at 1.65 tons per acre, is down 0.05 ton per acre from last year. Area harvested, at 1.43 million acres, is up 13% from 2023.
All other haylage and greenchop production, at a record low 53,000 tons, is down 41% from a year earlier. Yield, at 6.60 tons per acre, is up 0.60 ton per acre from last year. Area harvested, at a record low 8,000 acres, is down 47% from 2023.
Principal crop area planted totaled 16.8 million acres, down 2% from 2023. Area harvested, at 16.2 million acres, is down 1% from last year. South Dakota principal crop acres include corn, sorghum, oats, barley, rye, winter wheat, other spring wheat, soybeans, sunflower, proso millet, and all hay. Double cropped acres and unharvested small grains planted as cover crops are also included.
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