Production of corn for grain totaled 1.286 billion bushels in 2012, well below 2011 production of 1.947 billion bushels. The final yield was 105 bushels per acre, 52 bushels below last year. This was the lowest yield since 1988, when yield stood at 73 bushels per acre. Drought conditions in 2012 brought about the low yield. Acres planted in 2012 were up 200,000 from 2011 at 12.8 million, and 12.25 million acres were harvested for grain. Warm conditions in 2012 got planting off to an early start, with 5 percent of the crop planted as of March 25. Early planting and consistent dry conditions contributed to a crop maturing earlier than usual. Harvest ran well ahead of the usual pace. Low yields pushed farmers to harvest more of the crop for silage than is typical.

The final yield for the 2012 soybean crop was 43.0 bushels per acre, 4.5 bushels below 2011. This was the lowest yield since 2003, when yield stood at 37.0 bushels per acre. Production in 2012 reached 383,560,000 bushels, down about 10 percent from 2011. Acres planted in 2012 were up 100,000 from 2011 to 9.05 million acres. Acres harvested in 2012 stood at 8.92 million. Soybean harvest this year ran about the same pace as last year, which was above the 5-year average harvest progress.

The final yield for the 2012 winter wheat crop was 63 bushels per acre, up two bushels from last year’s yield. Acreage seeded in the fall of 2011 was 660,000 acres, down 140,000 acres from 2010. Farmers harvested 645,000 acres for grain this year, compared to 765,000 acres last year. This resulted in a total production of 40.6 million bushels, a 13 percent decrease from the previous year.