Advisory service Pro Farmer doused hopes for a record U.S. corn crop on Friday, after a severe wind storm and drought cut yield potential in the top production state of Iowa, reports Reuters.
Following a crop tour of seven top producing states, Pro Farmer projected that farmers would harvest a corn crop of 14.820 billion bushels based on an average yield of 177.5 bushels per acre and a soybean crop of 4.362 billion bushels based on an average yield of 52.5 bushels per acre.
A key reason the corn forecast is lower is due to crop scouts’ findings in Iowa. Iowa crop conditions this year have struggled with drought conditions and the Aug. 10 derecho storm that sent hurricane-like winds and hail across the center of the state.
Some veteran crop scouts were shocked by the severity of damage.
