September Crop Production

Agricultural Statistics Board Briefing

Lance Honig, Chief

Crops Branch

September 10, 2021
Data Sources

September 10, 2021

Operator Reported

Survey

Field Objective Yield

Survey Corn, Cotton, Soybeans

Remotely Sensed Time Series 250 Meter Focus Area Imagery Through

(Satellite) MODIS Satellite Data Corn Belt August 28

FSA

Certified Acres

Farm Service Agency policy requires that producers participating in several programs 

submit an annual report regarding all cropland use on their farms.

Ag Yield Sample Size = 8,008 August 30 - September 7

Sample Size = 3,930 August 25 - September 1
September 2021 Ag Yield Survey

Sample Sizes

September 10, 2021
Special Note

September 10, 2021

Each September, NASS has the opportunity to revise planted and harvested acreage 

estimates for cotton, peanuts, and rice. This year NASS also included corn, sorghum, 

soybeans, and sugarbeets in this review due to the completeness of this season’s 

data for these crops. Revisions are based all available data, including the latest 

certified acreage data from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). All States in the 

estimating program for these crops were subject to review and updating.

Hurricane Ida made landfall on August 29 in Louisiana. The resulting rainfall caused 

flooding in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. The full impact of this weather event 

may not be fully reflected in this report.
United States Corn Condition

Percent Rated Good to Excellent

September 10, 2021

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

5/23 5/30 6/6 6/13 6/20 6/27 7/4 7/11 7/18 7/25 8/1 8/8 8/15 8/22 8/29 9/5 9/12 9/19 9/27 10/3 10/10 10/17 10/24

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Percent
United States Corn Progress

Percent Dented

September 10, 2021

Percent

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

8/1 8/8 8/15 8/22 8/29 9/5 9/12 9/19 9/27 10/3

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
September 2021 Corn

Acreage, Yield, and Production

September 10, 2021

United States

% Change from

Previous Estimate

% Change from

Previous Season

(1,000 Acres) (1,000 Acres) (Bushels/Acre) (1,000 Bushels)

Iowa 12,900 ↓ 5.1 12,450 ↓ 3.5 198 ↑ 11.2 2,465,100 ↑ 7.4

Illinois 11,000 ↓ 2.7 10,800 ↓ 2.7 214 ↑ 11.5 2,311,200 ↑ 8.4

Nebraska 9,900 ↓ 2.9 9,600 ↓ 2.9 188 ↑ 3.9 1,804,800 ↑ 0.8

Minnesota 8,300 ↑ 3.8 7,800 ↑ 3.9 174 ↓ 9.4 1,357,200 ↓ 5.9

Indiana 5,400 N C 5,250 N C 197 ↑ 5.3 1,034,250 ↑ 5.3

Top 5 States - By Production

% ∆ PY % ∆ PY % ∆ PY % ∆ PY

Planted Harvested Yield Production

93,304 85,085 176.3 14,996,417

↑ ↑

↑ 2.7 ↑

Planted Harvested Yield Production

(1,000 Acres) (1,000 Acres) (Bushels/Acre) (1,000 Bushels)

0.7

3.2 ↑ 2.5 ↑ 5.7

0.7 ↑ 1.0 ↑ 1.7
97.3

95.4

90.6

88.0

94.0

90.2

88.9

89.7

90.8

93.3

87.4 87.5

83.1

80.8

86.7

82.7

81.3 81.3

82.5

85.1

75.0

80.0

85.0

90.0

95.0

100.0

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Planted Harvested

Corn Acres

United States

September 10, 2021

Million Acres
131.5

100.7

138.6

113.5

127.1126.7

134.4133.8

136.9138.2

129.3

142.2

160.3

147.9149.1150.7

153.3

164.4

152.6

146.8

123.1

158.1

171.0

168.4

174.6

176.6176.4

167.5

172.0

176.3

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

180

190

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020

Corn Yield

United States

September 10, 2021

Bushels per Acre
September 2021 Corn Yield

Bushels and Percent Change from Previous Month

September 10, 2021
September 2021 Corn

NASA Terra MODIS Modeled Yield

September 10, 2021
September 2021 Corn Objective Yield

Ears per Acre and Yield for 10 State Region

August 12, 2021

Ears per Acre Bushels per Acre

155

160

165

170

175

180

185

190

195

27,000

27,500

28,000

28,500

29,000

29,500

September October November Final September October November Final September October November Final September October November Final September October November Final September October November Final

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Ears per Acre Yield
10.8

13.8 14.2

13.6

15.1

14.6 14.3

13.6

14.2

15.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Corn Production

United States

September 10, 2021

Billion Bushels
2021 U.S. Corn Production

Industry Expectations vs NASS

September 10, 2021

14.7

14.8

14.9

15.0

15.1

15.2

15.3

August September October November Final

Billion Bushels

Individual Industry Expectation NASS Estimate
United States Soybean Condition

Percent Rated Good to Excellent

September 10, 2021

Percent

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

5/23 5/30 6/6 6/13 6/20 6/27 7/4 7/11 7/18 7/25 8/1 8/8 8/15 8/22 8/29 9/5 9/12 9/19 9/27 10/3 10/10 10/17 10/24

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
United States Soybean Progress

Percent Dropping Leaves

September 10, 2021

Percent

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

8/22 8/29 9/5 9/12 9/19 9/27 10/3 10/10 10/17 10/24

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
September 2021 Soybeans

Acreage, Yield, and Production

September 10, 2021

United States

% Change from

Previous Estimate

% Change from

Previous Season

(1,000 Acres) (1,000 Acres) (Bushels/Acre) (1,000 Bushels)

Illinois 10,600 ↑ 2.9 10,550 ↑ 2.9 64.0 ↑ 8.5 675,200 ↑ 11.6

Iowa 10,100 ↑ 7.4 10,020 ↑ 7.5 59.0 ↑ 11.3 591,180 ↑ 19.7

Minnesota 7,700 ↑ 4.1 7,630 ↑ 4.1 47.0 ↓ 4.1 358,610 ↓ 0.2

Indiana 5,700 N C 5,690 ↑ 0.2 60.0 ↑ 3.4 341,400 ↑ 3.6

Nebraska 5,600 ↑ 7.7 5,550 ↑ 7.6 59.0 ↑ 3.5 327,450 ↑ 11.3

Top 5 States - By Production

Planted Harvested Yield Production

(1,000 Acres) (1,000 Acres) (Bushels/Acre) (1,000 Bushels)

↑ 5.0

87,235 86,436 50.6 4,373,927

↓ 0.3 ↑ 1.2 ↑ 0.8

% ∆ PY % ∆ PY % ∆ PY % ∆ PY

↓ 0.4

↑ 0.8 ↑ 5.8

Planted Harvested Yield Production

↑ 5.0
Soybean Acres

United States

September 10, 2021

Million Acres

77.2 76.8

83.3 82.7 83.5

90.2

89.2

76.1

83.1

87.2

76.1 76.2

82.6

81.7

82.7

89.5

87.6

74.9

82.3

86.4

70.0

75.0

80.0

85.0

90.0

95.0

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Planted Harvested
37.6

32.6

41.4

35.3

37.6

38.9 38.9

36.6

38.1

39.6

38.0

33.9

42.2

43.1 42.9

41.7

39.7

44.0 43.5

42.0

40.0

44.0

47.5 48.0

51.9

49.3

50.6

47.4

50.2 50.6

29

34

39

44

49

54

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020

Soybean Yield

United States

September 10, 2021

Bushels per Acre
September 2021 Soybean Yield

Bushels and Percent Change from Previous Month

September 10, 2021
September 2021 Soybeans

NASA Terra MODIS Modeled Yield

September 10, 2021
September 2021 Soybean Objective Yield

Pods per 18 Square Feet and Yield for 11 State Region

August 12, 2021

Pods per 18 Square Feet Bushels per Acre

35

40

45

50

55

60

1,300

1,400

1,500

1,600

1,700

1,800

1,900

2,000

September October November Final September October November Final September October November Final September October November Final September October November Final September October November Final

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Pods per 18 Square Feet Yield
3.04

3.36

3.93 3.93

4.30 4.41 4.43

3.55

4.14

4.37

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Soybean Production

United States

September 10, 2021

Billion Bushels
2021 U.S. Soybean Production

Industry Expectations vs NASS

September 10, 2021

4.25

4.30

4.35

4.40

4.45

4.50

August September October November Final

Billion Bushels

Individual Industry Expectation NASS Estimate
United States Cotton Condition

Percent Rated Good to Excellent

September 10, 2021

Percent

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

5/30 6/6 6/13 6/20 6/27 7/4 7/11 7/18 7/25 8/1 8/8 8/15 8/22 8/29 9/5 9/12 9/19 9/27 10/3 10/10 10/17 10/24 10/31

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
United States Cotton Progress

Percent Bolls Opening

September 10, 2021

Percent

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

8/1 8/8 8/15 8/22 8/29 9/5 9/12 9/19 9/27 10/3 10/10 10/17 10/24 10/31

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
September 2021 Cotton

Acreage, Yield, and Production

September 10, 2021

United States

% Change from

Previous Estimate

% Change from

Previous Season

(1,000 Acres) (1,000 Acres) (Pounds/Acre) (1,000 Bales)

Texas 6,367 ↓ 6.9 5,266 ↑ 63.0 787.0 ↑ 14.9 8,630 ↑ 87.1

Georgia 1,170 ↓ 1.7 1,160 ↓ 1.7 910.0 ↑ 2.6 2,200 ↑ 0.9

Arkansas 475 ↓ 9.5 470 ↓ 9.6 1,174.0 ↓ 0.4 1,150 ↓ 9.9

Mississippi 445 ↓ 16.0 430 ↓ 18.1 1,150.0 ↑ 6.6 1,030 ↓ 12.7

Missouri 315 ↑ 6.8 310 ↑ 8.0 1,316.0 ↑ 15.0 850 ↑ 24.3

Top 5 States - By Production

Planted Harvested Yield Production

(1,000 Acres) (1,000 Acres) (Pounds/Acre) (1,000 Bales)

11,191 9,922 895 18,509

↑ 7.2

↓ 7.5 ↑ 19.9 ↑ 5.7 ↑ 26.7

↓ 4.5 ↓ 4.2 ↑ 11.9

Planted Harvested Yield Production

% ∆ PY % ∆ PY % ∆ PY % ∆ PY
12.3

10.4

11.1

8.6

10.1

12.7

14.1

13.7

12.1

11.2

9.3

7.5

9.4

8.1

9.5

11.1

10.0

11.5

8.3

9.9

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

10.0

11.0

12.0

13.0

14.0

15.0

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Planted Harvested

Cotton Acres

United States

September 10, 2021

Million Acres
700

606

708

537

705

673

625

607

632

705

665

730

855

831

814

879

813

776

812

790

892

822

838

766

867

905

882

831

847

895

480

530

580

630

680

730

780

830

880

930

980

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020

Cotton Yield

United States

September 10, 2021

Pounds per Acre
September 2021 Cotton Yield

Pounds and Percent Change from Previous Month

September 10, 2021
17.3

12.9

16.3

12.9

17.2

20.9

18.4

19.9

14.6

18.5

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Cotton Production

United States

September 10, 2021

Million Bales
2021 U.S. Cotton Production

Industry Expectations vs NASS

September 10, 2021

16.8

17.0

17.2

17.4

17.6

17.8

18.0

18.2

18.4

18.6

18.8

19.0

19.2

19.4

19.6

August September October November December Final

Million Bales

Individual Industry Expectation NASS Estimate
September 2021 Sorghum

Acreage, Yield, and Production

September 10, 2021

United States

% Change from

Previous Estimate

% Change from

Previous Season

(1,000 Acres) (1,000 Acres) (Bushels/Acre) (1,000 Bushels)

Kansas 3,600 ↑ 20.0 3,350 ↑ 19.6 75.0 ↓ 11.8 251,250 ↑ 5.6

Texas 2,150 ↑ 19.4 1,830 ↑ 22.0 66.0 ↑ 4.8 120,780 ↑ 27.8

Nebraska 320 ↑ 64.1 265 ↑ 76.7 84.0 ↓ 7.7 22,260 ↑ 63.1

Colorado 500 ↑ 35.1 435 ↑ 70.6 48.0 ↑ 140.0 20,880 ↑ 309.4

Oklahoma 430 ↑ 41.0 355 ↑ 54.3 58.0 ↑ 28.9 20,590 ↑ 98.9

Top 5 States - By Production

Planted Harvested Yield Production

(1,000 Acres) (1,000 Acres) (Bushels/Acre) (1,000 Bushels)

↑ 28.0

% ∆ PY % ∆ PY % ∆ PY % ∆ PY

7,340 6,520 69.7 454,285

↑ 13.1 ↑ 12.7 ↓ 1.6 ↑ 11.0

↓ 4.8 ↑ 21.8

Planted Harvested Yield Production

↑ 24.8
Sorghum Acres

United States

September 10, 2021

Million Acres

6.26

8.08

7.14

8.46

6.69

5.63 5.69

5.27

5.88

7.34

5.00

6.59 6.40

7.85

6.16

5.04 5.06

4.68

5.10

6.52

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Planted Harvested
72.6

59.9

72.7

55.6

67.3

69.2

67.3

69.7

60.9

59.9

50.6

52.7

69.6

68.5

56.1

73.2

65.1

69.4

71.9

54.0

49.6

59.6

67.6

76.0

77.9

71.7 72.1

73.0 73.2

69.7

45.0

50.0

55.0

60.0

65.0

70.0

75.0

80.0

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020

Sorghum Yield

United States

September 10, 2021

Bushels per Acre
September 2021 Sorghum Yield

Bushels and Percent Change from Previous Month

September 10, 2021
0.248

0.392

0.433

0.597

0.480

0.362 0.365

0.341

0.373

0.454

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Sorghum Production

United States

September 10, 2021

Billion Bushels
September 2021 Field Crops

Acreage, Yield, and Production

September 10, 2021

Unit Unit

Chickpeas Lb Cwt

% Change from Previous Estimate ↑ 10.4 ↑ 9.9 N/A N/A

% Change from Previous Season ↑ 39.5 ↑ 39.8 ↓ 49.2 ↓ 29.0

Dry Edible Peas Lb Cwt

% Change from Previous Estimate ↑ 3.7 ↑ 3.6 N/A N/A

% Change from Previous Season ↓ 2.9 ↓ 5.5 ↓ 40.8 ↓ 44.1

Lentils Lb Cwt

% Change from Previous Estimate ↑ 21.5 ↑ 22.2 N/A N/A

% Change from Previous Season ↑ 34.7 ↑ 29.8 ↓ 47.1 ↓ 31.3

Peanuts Lb Lb

% Change from Previous Estimate ↓ 3.2 ↓ 3.4 ↓ 1.0 ↓ 4.3

% Change from Previous Season ↓ 5.1 ↓ 5.1 ↑ 9.1 ↑ 3.5

Rice Lb Cwt

% Change from Previous Estimate ↓ 4.5 ↓ 4.5 ↑ 1.0 ↓ 3.5

% Change from Previous Season ↓ 16.3 ↓ 16.3 ↑ 0.1 ↓ 16.3

6,348,150

Production

(1,000 Units)

3,033

12,150

5,090

376 368 825

Yield

(Units per Acre)

190,499

970 919

711 667

1,580 1,533

Harvested

(1,000 Acres)

Planted

(1,000 Acres)

1,322

763

4,141

2,541 2,499 7,623
September 2021 Field Crops

Acreage, Yield, and Production

September 10, 2021

Unit Unit

Sugarbeets Ton Ton

% Change from Previous Estimate ↓ 0.2 ↑ 1.3 ↑ 1.3 ↑ 2.7

% Change from Previous Season ↓ 0.1 ↑ 0.6 ↑ 2.4 ↑ 3.0

Sugarcane Ton Ton

% Change from Previous Estimate N/A ↓ 0.1 ↑ 1.4 ↑ 1.2

% Change from Previous Season N/A ↓ 1.8 ↓ 2.1 ↓ 3.8

Tobacco Lb Lb

% Change from Previous Estimate N/A ↓ 0.4 ↑ 0.3 ↓ 0.1

% Change from Previous Season N/A ↑ 12.7 ↑ 6.9 ↑ 20.5

N/A 931 37.3 34,732

N/A 223 2,102 469,090

Planted Harvested Yield Production

(1,000 Acres) (1,000 Acres) (Units per Acre) (1,000 Units)

1,161 1,149 30.1 34,612
September 2021 Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts

Production

September 10, 2021

1.82

1.70

1.55 1.56

1.89

1.57

1.44

1.68 1.73

1.40

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Million Tons

Navel Orange Production

California

497 492

571

606

689

630

679 655

785

670

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Thousand Tons

Walnut Production

California Unit

Navel Oranges (CA) Ton

% Change from Previous Estimate N/A

% Change from Previous Season ↓ 13.8

Walnuts (CA) Ton

% Change from Previous Estimate N/A

% Change from Previous Season ↓ 14.6

Production

(1,000 Units)

1,400

670
Selected Upcoming Reports

September 10, 2021

https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/index.php

Cattle on Feed

Hogs and Pigs

Agricultural Prices

Grain Stocks

Small Grains Summary

Cotton System

Fats & Oils

Grain Crushings

Cotton Ginnings

Crop Production

September 24

September 30

October 1

October 12
USDA Data Users’ Meeting

September 10, 2021

USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting

October 13 & 14, 2021

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET

Registration information coming soon.
#StatChat

September 10, 2021
All Reports Available At

www.nass.usda.gov

For Questions

(202) 720-2127

(800) 727-9540

nass@usda.gov