Nebraska's 2023 Crop Yields Show Significant Rise

Nebraska's agricultural community is buzzing with optimism. The latest USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service report paints a rosy picture for the state's 2023 crop yield. Here’s the lowdown.

Corn continues to be a major player in Nebraska's agricultural landscape. The forecast for this year hints at a robust 1.70 billion bushels.

That's a significant jump of 17% from the previous year.

What's fueling this increase?

Two factors - a 9% growth in the area harvested for grain now touching 9.59 million acres, and a notable surge in average yield per acre, standing proudly at 177 bushels.

But it's not just about corn. Soybeans, another staple in Nebraska's fields, are also showing a promising trend. This year, soybean production is pegged at 286 million bushels, marking a 3% uptick from 2022.

While the harvest area has decreased by 8% (now at 5.20 million acres), the yield per acre has surged by six bushels.

Sorghum is the dark horse that has taken everyone by surprise. The numbers are nothing short of spectacular – a whopping 191% production increase, translating to 20.0 million bushels.

The harvested area, too, has risen sharply by 76%, covering 220,000 acres. And if that wasn't enough, each acre now promises a yield of 91 bushels, a commendable rise of 36 bushels from last year.

Sugarbeet farmers are also riding the wave of positivity. Their production forecast stands at 1.32 million tons, a robust 38% increase from 2022. With a harvest area growing by 16% (now at 46,000 acres), each acre's yield is also up, touching 28.7 tons.

While dry edible pea production may seem like a smaller player in the grand scheme, its statistics are equally laudable.

Production forecasts touch 418 thousand cwt, a hefty 188% jump. And even with a 10% drop in harvest area, the yield per acre has soared, reaching 2,200 pounds.

2023 seems to be a golden year for Nebraska's farmers. With almost all major crops showing promising growth, the state's agricultural sector is poised for a prosperous year.

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