Record Yield Expected for Mississippi Corn

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Farmers in Mississippi may have a record year for corn.

Mississippi State University analysts say ample rains helped bring the yield for dryland corn close that for irrigated land, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is forecasting record yield of 180 bushels per acre.

Extension Service agricultural economist Brian Williams says that’s four bushels higher than last year and two bushels above last month’s estimate.

Extension Service corn specialist Erick Larson says that with prices down, lower production costs are a bonus.

Williams says Greenville cash corn was recently trading at $3.51 per bushel, compared with $4.53 a year ago and $7.22 two years ago. Planting decisions for next year, like most years, are based primarily on market prices.