'USDA: NEBRASKA SET CORN, SOYBEAN RECORDS IN 2009'

(JournalStar.com) -- The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the USDA says "Nebraska's record 2009 corn crop was an estimated 1.58 billion bushels," which "beats the 2007 record by 8%" and last year's crop by 13%." The state's soybean crop "hit a record 259 million bushels, 15% more than 2008." See more at <http://www.journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/article_76e62094-ffa4-11de-815f-001cc4c002e0.html>

'CORN CROP 2009: ANOTHER BIN BUSTER?'

(Lincoln Journal Star) -- JournalStar.com reports that record corn production of 1.52 billion bushels and record-equaling yields of 166 bushels per acre are within reach this year in Nebraska, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service at USDA. Meanwhile, "Nebraska soybean production is expected to reach 228 million bushels, the third biggest crop on record." According to the article, "more bushels ought to provide stability" to a weakened ethanol industry and the state's livestock sector, which generates "more than half of all the state's agricultural sales receipts." See the story at <http://journalstar.com/news/local/article_d34f35d2-8795-11de-8ade-001cc4c002e0.html.

SPRING CORN PLANTING PROVIDES $3.5 BILLION STIMULUS IN NEBRASKA

(Nebraska Ag Connection) -- The Nebraska Ag Connection reports that "each year about this time, Nebraska corn producers invest approximately $1.4 billion in fuel, seed, fertilizer and other planting costs alone. According to the Nebraska Corn Board this investment in just a couple weeks' time multiplies by about 2.5 times into a $3.5 billion stimulus for Nebraska communities." This "provides not only a ripple effect in rural communities, but tremendous job opportunities in the agribusiness sector along with stimulus for the rest of the state," according to officials with the Nebraska Corn Board.

See the story at <http://www.nebraskaagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=311&yr=2009>

SECOND LARGEST CORN CROP ON RECORD

(Grand Island Independent) -- Nebraska farmers harvested 1.39 billion bushels of corn in 2008, which is the second largest harvest on record. For the second straight year, much of Nebraska had above-average rainfall that flooded fields and caused planting delays and replants but still yielded a large crop as dryland corn production contributed to higher yields. According to USDA, last year’s corn crop yielded 163 bushels per acre, which was 3 bushels above the 2007 crop. The average U.S. grain yield is estimated at 153.9 bushels per acre. Nebraska soybean production for 2008 totaled 226 million bushels, up 15% from last year.

CORN HARVEST CALLED 2ND HIGHEST ON RECORD

(AP) — The Nebraska corn crop is expected to be the second-highest on record at 1.38 billion bushels. The latest USDA estimate says Nebraska's corn crop will come in 7% under last year's record harvest of 1.47 billion bushels. Nebraska's soybean crop will come in at an estimated 14% higher than last year. Sorghum production was forecast to be the third-highest on record -- 19% below a year ago. Nebraska production of sugar beets was down 20% from last year, mostly because fewer acres were planted for harvest. Potato production was forecast at 4% less than a year ago.