Based on Sept. 1 conditions, Nebraska’s corn crop is forecast at 1.32 billion bushels, 1% below last month, 14% below last year, and the smallest crop since 2006, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Yield is forecast at 145 bushels per acre, 2 bushels below last month and the lowest since 2002. Area to be harvested for grain, at 9.1 million acres, is down 5% from a year ago.

Soybean production in Nebraska is forecast at 200 million bushels, down 7% from last month and 23% below last year. Yield is forecast at 40 bushels per acre, a decrease of 3 bushels from August and the lowest since 2002. Area for harvest, at 5.0 million acres, is up 4% from a year ago.

Sorghum production in Nebraska is forecast at 4.48 million bushels, down 7% from the August forecast and down 32% from last year. Yield is forecast at 56 bushels per acre, down 4 bushels from last month and the lowest since 2002. Acres for harvest, at 80,000, are 10,000 acres more than 2011.

Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.52 million tons, up 3% from last month and 18% above 2011. Yield, at a record high 31 tons per acre, is up 1 ton from last month and over 6 tons above the previous high of 24.9 tons per acre set last year.