Secretary Naig: ‘Iowa remained a production powerhouse’

DES MOINES -- Iowans produced a historically strong corn and soybean crop according to the 2023 Iowa Crop Production Annual Summary released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service this month.

“Even with all the weather challenges last year, Iowa remained a production powerhouse and that’s a testament to the assistance of timely rains, the resiliency of Iowa farmers, and continuous improvements in genetics, traits, equipment, technology, production methods and many other innovations,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig

Despite 2023 ending as the state’s 22nd-driest year on record, with 8eightof the 12 months registering below normal precipitation and persistent drought continuing for a record 184 consecutive weeks and counting, Iowans once again produced strong crops.

At 201 bushels per acre and 2.52 billion bushels of production, this year’s Iowa corn crop ranks as the fourth-highest yield and fifth-largest production in state history and helped drive the national corn yield and production to all-time record levels.

At 58 bushels per acre and 573 million bushels of production, this year’s soybean crop ranked as the fourth-highest yield and third highest production in Iowa history, contributing to the country’s fourth highest yield and seventh largest soybean crop ever.

Strong production requires continual efforts to build markets and promote conservation, both of which are top priorities for Naig and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Corn for grain production in Iowa for 2023 was estimated at 2.52 billion bushels, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production 2023 Summary.

Current year production was up 2% from the previous year's 2.47 billion bushels. Iowa's corn for grain yield was estimated at 201.0 bushels per acre. Area harvested for grain was estimated at 12.6 million acres, 200,000 acres above 2022.

Corn planted for all purposes in 2023 was estimated at 13.1 million acres.

Corn for silage production was estimated at 7.60 million tons, down 7% from 2022. The silage yield estimate of 20.0 tons per acre was down 1.0 tons per acre from 2022.

Producers harvested 380,000 acres of corn for silage, down 3 percent from 2022.

Soybean production was estimated at 573 million bushels in 2023. This was down 2% from last year's 587 million bushels.

The Iowa soybean crop yielded 58.0 bushels per acre in 2023. The harvested acreage of 9.88 million was down 150,000 acres from 2022. Soybean planted acreage, at 9.95 million, was down 150,000 acres from 2022.

All hay production for the state was estimated at 2.95 million tons, down 18 percent from the 3.58 million tons produced in 2022. Producers averaged 2.92 tons per acre, down 0.14 tons per acre from 2022.

All hay harvested acres were estimated at 1.01 million acres, down 160,000 acres from 2022.

Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures for hay production was estimated at 2.40 million tons, down 11% from 2022. Producers averaged 3.20 tons per acre, down 0.50 tons per acre from 2022.

Harvested acres were up 20,000 from last year, to 750,000 acres. Iowa producers seeded 70,000 acres of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures in 2023, down 7% from 2022.

Other hay production was estimated at 546,000 tons, down 38% from 2022. Producers averaged 2.10 tons per acre, up 0.10 tons from the 2022 yield.

Harvested acres of other hay, at 260,000, were down 180,000 acres from 2022.

Corn for grain production in 2023 was estimated at a record high 15.3 billion bushels, up 12% from the 2022 estimate. The average yield in the United States was estimated at a record high 177.3 bushels per acre, 3.9 bushels above the 2022 yield of 173.4 bushels per acre.

Area harvested for grain was estimated at 86.5 million acres, up 10% from the 2022 estimate.

Soybean production in 2023 totaled 4.16 billion bushels, down 2% from 2022. The average yield per acre was estimated at 50.6 bushels, up 1.0 bushel from 2022.

Harvested area, at 82.4 million acres, was down 4% from last year.