Missouri crop production sets records in 2004

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri farmers had a banner year in 2004, according to the latest state agricultural statistics report.

Most Missouri crops set records, thanks to plentiful rain and cool weather during most of the growing season, Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service Director Gene Danekas said Wednesday.

Soybean production last year hit a record 223 million bushels, up 53 percent from the 2003 crop and about 20 percent above the previous record crop of 2001. Farmers harvested 4.96 million of the 5 million acres planted. Yields averaged 45 bushels an acre.

Corn production reached 467 million bushels, up 54 percent from 2003 and 18 percent above the previous high set in 2000. Yields averaged 162 bushels an acre. Of 2.95 million acres planted, 2.88 million acres were harvested for grain and another 50,000 acres were cut for livestock feed.

Cotton production hit a record 820,000 bales, 17 percent above the record high set a year earlier. The average yield per acre also was a record, at 1,041 pounds.

Rice production reached a record 13.3 million hundredweight, 26 percent above the previous year and 7 percent above the record set in 2001. The yield of 6,800 pounds per acre is estimated but is well above the 6,130 pound record set in 2003.

Not every crop had a record year, however. Grain sorghum production was 15.7 million bushels, down about 3 percent from 2003. Of 150,000 acres planted, 145,000 were harvested, down 31 percent from the previous year. Still, the average yield per acre was a record 108 bushels, beating a high set in 1992 of 97 bushels.

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On the Net:

Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service: http://agebb.missouri.edu/mass