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No. 2018-1 | 2018 Crop Highlights

Crop Highlights
(based on January 2018 reports)

2017 Corn Yield - Bushels and change from previous year.
  • Red = yield decrease
  • Blue = yield increase
  • White = not estimated
  • Top number = average bushels per acre
  • Bottom number = average bushels per acre increase or decrease from 2016

2017 Corn Yield
bushels per acre and change from 2016

Across the Midwest, a lack of extreme heat helped boost the nation's corn yield to its highest level on record – slightly above 2016. U.S. corn growers produced 14.6 billion bushels in 2017, down 4 percent from 2016. Average corn yield in 2017 was estimated at a record high 176.6 bushels per acre, 2.0 bushels more than the 2016 average yield of 174.6 bushels per acre. Area harvested, at 82.7 million acres, was down 5 percent from 2016.

2017 Soybean Yield
bushels per acre and change from 2016

U.S. soybean production for 2017 totaled a record 4.39 billion bushels, up 2 percent from 2016. With record high levels across much of the southern United States, from the Delta to the Appalachian Mountains, the average soybean yield in 2017 was estimated at 49.1 bushels per acre, 2.9 bushels less than 2016's record average yield. Harvested area in 2017 was a record 89.5 million acres, up 8 percent from 2016.

2017 Soybean Yield - bushels and change from previous year.
  • Red = yield decrease
  • Blue = yield increase
  • Grey = no change in yield
  • White = not estimated
  • Top number = average bushels per acre
  • Bottom number = average bushels per acre increase or decrease from 2016
2017 All Cotton Yield - pounds and change from previous year.
  • Red = yield decrease
  • Blue = yield increase
  • White = not estimated
  • Top number = average pounds per acre
  • Bottom number = average pounds per acre increase or decrease from 2016

2017 All Cotton Yield
pounds per acre and change from 2016

For 2017, U.S. production of all cotton totaled 21.3 million 480-pound bales, up 24 percent from 2016. Average yield is estimated at 899 pounds per acre, up 32 pounds from 2016. Harvested area, at 11.3 million acres, was up 19 percent from 2016.

2018 Winter Wheat Planted Area
thousands of acres and change from 2017

The Winter Wheat and Canola Seedings report is the first indicator of 2018 winter wheat acreage. Planted area for harvest in 2018 is estimated at 32.6 million acres, down less than 1 percent from 2017 and down 10 percent from 2016. This represents the second lowest U.S. winter wheat acreage on record.

2018 Winter Wheat Planted Area - (000) Acres and Change From Previous Year.
  • Red = acres planted decrease
  • Blue = acres planted increase
  • Grey = no change in acres planted
  • White = not estimated
  • Top number = acres planted
  • Bottom number = acres planted increase or decrease from 2017
December 1, 2017 Hay Stocks/Production - Percent and Change From Previous Year.
  • Red = decrease in thousands of tons
  • Blue = increase in thousands of tons
  • Grey = no change in production
  • Top number = total production in thousands of tons
  • Bottom number = percent change from 2016

2017 Hay Production
thousands of tons and percent change from 2016

Production of all dry hay for 2017 was estimated at 131 million tons, down 3 percent from the 2016 total. Area harvested was estimated at 53.8 million acres, up 1 percent from 2016. The average yield in 2017, at 2.44 tons per acre, was down 0.08 ton from 2016. All hay harvested acres was the second lowest since 1908 (the lowest was in 2016).

You can explore the full January 12 Crop Production 2017 Summary and Winter Wheat and Canola Seedings reports. View some of the data on a data visualization available from your desktop, or access all data on the online searchable database Quick Stats.

Last Modified: 11/19/2018