Nebraska’s 2024 corn crop is forecast to hit a record high of 1.89 billion bushels, up 9% from last year’s production, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
The increase comes as harvested grain area is expected to rise to 9.7 million acres, up 2% from 2023. The average yield is projected to be 195 bushels per acre, an increase of 13 bushels over last year, which would also set a new record for yield if realized.
Soybean production is also expected to climb significantly, with a forecast of 310 million bushels, a 16% jump from 2023. Harvest area is estimated at 5.25 million acres, up 1%, while the average yield is projected at 59 bushels per acre, a notable increase of 7.5 bushels compared to last year.
Nebraska’s sorghum production is expected to reach 16.8 million bushels, up 2% from last year, with an unchanged yield of 73 bushels per acre. Harvested area is forecast at 230,000 acres, also up 2% from 2023.
The state’s sugarbeet production is predicted to rise by 10%, reaching 1.47 million tons. Harvest area is projected to be 46,700 acres, slightly higher than last year, with a yield forecast of 31.5 tons per acre, up 2.9 tons from 2023.
In contrast, dry edible pea production is expected to increase 15% to 470,000 hundredweight. Harvested area is forecast to grow 26% to 24,000 acres, though the yield is expected to decline by 190 pounds per acre to 1,960 pounds per acre.
