South Dakota Ag Connection - S.D. 2020 Corn and Soybean Harvests Up Double Digits

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S.D. 2020 Corn and Soybean Harvests Up Double Digits
South Dakota Ag Connection - 01/13/2021

Corn for grain production in South Dakota based on year-end surveys is estimated at 729 million bushels, up 31% from 2019, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Yield, at a record high 162 bushels per acre, is up 18 bushels from last year. Farmers harvested 4.50 million acres of corn for grain up 16% from 2019. Corn for silage production is 6.48 million tons, up 9% from 2019. Yield, at a record high 18.0 tons per acre, is up 0.5 ton from last year. Farmers harvested 360,000 acres, up 6% from 2019. Total acreage planted to corn for all purposes is 4.95 million acres, up 14% from last year.

Soybean production for 2020 totaled 224 million bushels, up 53% from 2019. Yield, at 45.5 bushels per acre, is up 3.0 bushels from a year earlier. Area for harvest, at 4.92 million acres, is up 43% from 2019. Total acreage planted is 4.95 million acres, up 41% from last year.

Alfalfa hay production, at 3.24 million tons, is down 27% from a year earlier. The average yield, at 1.80 tons per acre, is down 0.55 ton per acre from 2019. Area harvested, at 1.80 million acres, is down 5% from 2019. Alfalfa haylage and greenchop at 270,000 tons, is down 38% from a year earlier. Average yield, at 4.50 tons per acre, is up 1.00 ton per acre from 2019. Area harvested, at 60,000 acres, is down 52% from 2019. Seedings of alfalfa during 2020 totaled 130,000 acres, down 5,000 acres from the year earlier.

All other hay production, at 2.13 million tons, is down 16% from a year earlier. The average yield, at 1.70 tons per acre, is down 0.05 ton per acre from last year. Area harvested, at 1.25 million acres, is down 14% from 2019. All other haylage and greenchop production, at 130,000 tons, is down 56% from a year earlier. Average yield, at 6.50 tons per acre, is up 2.00 tons per acre from last year. Area harvested, at 20,000 acres, is down 69% from 2019.

Sorghum for grain production in 2020 is estimated at 11.4 million bushels, down 19% from 2019. Yield, at 71.0 bushels per acre, is down 9.0 bushels from a year earlier. Area harvested for grain, at 160,000 acres, is down 9% from 2019. Sorghum for silage production is 350,000 tons, down 59% from 2019. Yield, at a record high 14.0 tons per acre, is up 1.0 ton from last year. Farmers harvested 25,000 acres, down 62% from 2019. Total acreage planted to sorghum for all purposes is 210,000 acres, down 16% from last year.

Oil sunflower production in 2020 is 1.06 billion pounds, up 36% from last year. Yield, at 1,900 pounds per acre, is up 200 pounds from a year earlier. Area harvested, at 560,000 acres, is up 22% from 2019. Total acreage planted is 570,000 acres, up 18% from last year. Non-oil sunflower production of 103 million pounds is up 108% from last year. Yield, at 2,020 pounds per acre, is up 420 pounds from a year earlier. Area harvested, at 51,000 acres, is up 65% from 2019. Total acreage planted is 52,000 acres, up 8% from last year.

Proso millet production in 2020 is estimated at 1.72 million bushels, up 16% from last year's production. Yield, at 35.0 bushels per acre, is down 3.0 bushels from a year earlier. Area harvested for grain, at 49,000 acres, is up 26% from 2019. Total acreage planted is 54,000 acres, up 6% from last year.

Dry edible pea production is estimated at 448,000 cwt, up 36% from 2019. Yield is estimated at 1,600 pounds per acre, down 600 pounds from last year. Acres harvested are estimated at 28,000, up 87% from a year ago. Total acreage planted is 29,000 acres, up 81% from last year.

South Dakota flaxseed estimates have been discontinued from the NASS annual crop estimating program starting in 2019.

Safflower production is estimated at 16.9 million pounds, up 160% from 2019. Yield per harvested acre is estimated at 1,250 pounds, up 650 pounds from last year. Acres harvested are estimated at 13,500, up 25% from a year ago. Total acreage planted is 15,500 acres, up 12% from last year.

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