Sep 20, 2023

2023 U.S. Corn Estimate Unchanged at 173.0 bu/ac

Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.

The 2023 U.S. corn yield was left unchanged this week at 173.0 bu/ac and I have a neutral to lower bas going forward. I have adopted the USDA's harvested acreage of 87.09 million acres, which now results in a production of 15.06 billion bushels.

Showers over the weekend favored the central and southwestern areas. The showers were mostly light and scattered with the heaviest amounts in northern Illinois and Texas. The forecast for this week is for showers across the western Corn Belt and generally dry across the eastern Corn Belt. Above normal temperatures this week across the western Midwest will favor drydown and maturation of the crops.

The 2023 U.S. corn crop is 90% dented compared to 86% last year and 87% average. The corn is 54% mature compared to 38% last year and 44% average and the corn is 9% harvested compared to 7% last year and 7% average.

In the September Crop Report, the USDA estimated the 2023 U.S. corn yield at 173.8 bu/ac (down 1.3 bu/ac from August) with a harvested acreage of 87.09 million acres resulting in a production of 15.13 billion bushels. I think they might trim the corn yield a little more and the final yield may end up in the range of 170 to 172 bu/ac.