Experts project 6 percent increase in corn crops this season

The USDA estimates the largest increases in planted acreage will be in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and North Dakota.
The USDA estimates the largest increases in planted acreage will be in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and North Dakota. | File photo

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) expect growers to plant 6 percent more corn crops this season; approximately 5.6 million more acres than last year. 

The corn crop yield could be a total of 93.6 million acres, the highest since 2013 and the third-highest since 1944.

“U.S. farmers produced an abundant crop in 2015. Given the strong carryover entering this growing season, we may see quite a large corn supply at harvest should weather prove favorable in 2016,” NCGA President Chip Bowling said. “While many factors may change the reality on the ground as planting progresses, American corn supplies should remain ample for the year to come. Given the impact this continues to have on prices, the work being done at NCGA to grow demand will prove even more important as we work to find markets for our product and remain profitable into the future.”

The USDA estimates the largest increases in planted acreage will be in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and North Dakota, and the largest percentage increases will be in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and other southern states. 

The USDA does not expect any state to have a decrease in planted acreage from 2015.