One of the worst growing seasons most U.S. farmers can remember is coming to an end with a corn harvest that’s at least three weeks early. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that 4 percent of the corn harvest is complete. Normally, just 1 percent of the crop is in at this point in August.
The USDA predicted a record harvest in the spring, when farmers planted 96.4 million acres of corn – the most since 1937. But the agency has been reducing its estimate since then as unusual heat disrupted pollination and a severe drought centered over the middle of the country.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.