Corn production is forecast at 13.0 billion bushels, up 2 percent from last
month and 7 percent higher than 2008.  Based on conditions as of September 1,
yields are expected to average 161.9 bushels per acre, up 2.4 bushels from
August and 8.0 bushels above last year.  If realized, this will be the
highest yield on record and production will be the second largest, behind
2007.  Yield forecasts increased from last month across the western Corn Belt
and the northern half of the Great Plains as mild temperatures and adequate
soil moisture supplies provided favorable growing conditions.  Yield
prospects were unchanged in the eastern Corn Belt where dry conditions during
August depleted soil moisture supplies.  Iowa is expecting to harvest 2.49 billion bushels of corn with an average of 187 bushels per acre.  Nebraska's corn production is expected to be nearly 1.5 billion bushels with an average of 169 bushels per acre.
                                                                               
Soybean production is forecast at a record high 3.25 billion bushels, up
1 percent from the August forecast and up 10 percent from last year.  Based
on September 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 42.3 bushels per
acre, up 0.6 bushel from last month and up 2.7 bushels from 2008.  If
realized, this will be the third highest yield on record.  Compared with last
month, yields are forecast higher or unchanged in all States except Indiana,
where the yield is expected to be down 2 bushels.  The largest increases in
yield from the August forecast are expected in Alabama and Maryland, up 5 and
6 bushels, respectively.  If realized, the forecasted yield in Alabama,
Georgia, and Mississippi will be a record high and the forecasted yield in
Nebraska, North Carolina, and Ohio will tie the previous record high.  Area
for harvest in the U.S. is forecast at 76.8 million acres, up slightly from
June and up 3 percent from 2008.  Iowa's soybean production is expected to reach nearly 500 million bushels with an average of 52 bushels per acre, the same as the August estimate.  Nebraska soybean production is expected to reach 237 million bushels with a 51 bushels an acre average.

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