USDA: U.S. Corn Yield Hit Record High in 2017USDA: U.S. Corn Yield Hit Record High in 2017

Temperate weather conditions last year in the U.S. Midwest resulted in America’s largest corn yield on record during 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in report issued Jan. 12.

The Crop Production 2017 Summary report by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) said the nation’s corn yield reached an estimated 176.6 bushels per acre last year, climbing 2 bushels above the 2016 average yield of 174.6.

Although 2017 saw an uptick in yield, the amount of corn produced by U.S. growers reached an estimated 14.6 billion bushels, representing a 4% drop from the levels recorded in 2016.

Declines were also seen in acreage of area harvested for corn last year, which dropped 5% from 86.7 million acres in 2016 to 82.7 million acres.   

Iowa produced more corn than any other state at 2.6 billion bushels in 2017, followed by Illinois, which produced 2.2 billion bushels last year.

To view the USDA’s full report, click here.

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