EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn. — Minnesota fall potato production is forecast at 18.9 million hundredweight (cwt), up 12 percent from 2016 according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service Crop Production report. Yield is forecast at 415 cwt per acre, up from 400 last year. 45,500 acres were harvested out of 46,000 planted, an increase of 3,000 from the previous year..
Sugarbeet production is estimated at a record high 12.7 million tons, up 2 percent from the previous record set last year. Yield is forecast at a record high 30.9 tons per acre, up 1.4 tons from the October 1 forecast and up 0.9 ton from the previous record set in 2016. Acres expected to be harvested decreased 6,000 acres from last year to 411,000 acres.
Corn production is forecast at 1.45 billion bushels, down 6 percent from last year based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 190 bushels per acre, up 6 bushels per acre from the October 1 forecast but down 3 bushels from last year. Corn planted acreage is estimated at 8.10 million acres with 7.65 million acres harvested for grain.
Soybean production is forecast at 373 million bushels, down 4 percent from last year. The yield is forecast at 46.0 bushels per acre, no change from the October 1 forecast but 6.0 bushels below 2016. Soybean planted acreage is estimated at 8.15 million acres with 8.10 million acres to be harvested.
NOTE: Minnesota soybean acreage, yield and production for 2016 were revised in October 2017. Updated 2016 district and county estimates will be available in February 2018.
— Northern Plains Potato Growers Association
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