ND corn crop to be much smaller

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota's corn crop is expected to produce 215 million bushels this fall, down 25 percent from last year's record crop because of a corresponding decrease in acreage.

The Oct. 1 report from the U.S. Agriculture Department raised the corn estimate by 6 percent from the previous month. The 1.75 million acres of corn is 24 percent less than 2008.

Soybean production is forecast at 116 million bushels, down 4 percent from September and up 10 percent from 2008.

The USDA also projects a 12 percent drop in production of dry edible beans and sunflowers from 2008, and a 4 percent boost in canola production.

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