Nov 13, 2024
Late Season Dryness Results in Lower U.S. Soybean Yields
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
In the November Crop Report released on Friday, November 8th, the USDA lowered the 2024 U.S. soybean yield 1.4 bu/ac to 51.7 bu/ac. We had anticipated a lower soybean yield back on October 1st when the soybean yield was lowered to 51.5 bu/ac and it has been left unchanged since then.
The dry weather across the Midwest since early August resulted in smaller and lighter soybeans with some of the later set pods at the top of the plant not developing normally due to the dry conditions. Additionally, the soybeans were very dry at harvest with 6-7-8-9% moisture, which resulted in shatter loss and additional harvest losses, which always occurs when soybeans are that dry at harvest. The standard for safe storage of soybeans is 13% moisture. There were also probably some losses due to the hurricanes.
The USDA is generally slow to adjust its yield estimates, but it looks like they finally made the adjustment. Record high yields are forecast in Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, and Texas.
The 2024 U.S. corn yield was lowered 0.7 bu/ac in the November Crop Report to 183.1 bu/ac. We had anticipated a lower corn yield back on October 1st when the corn yield was lowered to 182.5 bu/ac. Record high yields are forecast in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.