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USDA reduces corn crop to reflect wet spring

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Corn farmers are feeling the impact of a cool, wet spring but are still expected to bring in a record crop this year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in its monthly report released Wednesday that farmers are expected to bring in 14 billion bushels of corn this year. That’s 135 million bushels less than last month’s estimate, reflecting the impact of the cooler spring. But that’d still beat 2009’s 13.1 billion bushel record. Last year, farmers harvested only about 11 billion bushels because of the drought.

The changes are not expected to significantly affect food prices for consumers. The UDSA says the amount of corn expected to be harvested per acre will be reduced to 156.5 bushels per acre down from 158 bushels estimated a month ago.