Undated — The United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, also known as NASS, has released its annual crop production summary.
In Iowa, 2024 was a bountiful year for corn and soybeans. Corn production in the state was estimated at a remarkable 2.63 billion bushels, marking a 4% increase from the previous year. Iowa’s corn for grain yield reached a record-breaking 211 bushels per acre. Though the harvested area decreased slightly to 12.5 million acres, the impressive yield more than made up for it. Additionally, corn for silage production was up by 7%, totaling 8.16 million tons.
On the soybean front, Iowa farmers harvested an estimated 598 million bushels, a 4% rise from last year. The average soybean yield was 60 bushels per acre, with a harvested acreage of nearly 10 million acres. The state saw an increase in both planted and harvested soybean areas, contributing to the overall production boost.
Turning to hay, all hay production in Iowa surged by 19%, reaching 3.49 million tons. Alfalfa hay production specifically saw a notable increase, with an average yield of 3.8 tons per acre.
Nationally, the U.S. corn production for 2024 was slightly down by 3%, estimated at 14.9 billion bushels. Area harvested for grain was estimated at 82.9 million acres, down 4 percent from 2023. However, the average yield was a record high of 179.3 bushels per acre. Meanwhile, soybean production across the country rose by 5%, totaling 4.37 billion bushels, with an average yield of 50.7 bushels per acre. The harvested area, at 86.1 million acres, was up 5 percent from last year.
