Despite all the challenges that faced farmers this season, the nation’s corn crop is on track to be a record high 14.0 billion bushels, according to the new crop production report released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

NASS revised the planted corn acreage downward in the new report, but increased the yield estimate to average 160.4 bushels per acre, with corn growers in 18 states forecast to reach record yields this year. Soybean production is forecast at 3.26 billion bushels, up 3 percent from the previous forecast and up 7 percent from last year.

Mike Krueger of The Money Farm gave a good overview of the new production estimates, as well as the new supply-demand report out from USDA, during today’s Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) Crop Report Conference Call. Listen to or download that here: MGEX November Crop Call

After a slow start, the 2013 harvest is pretty much back on schedule in most of the country, but it seems late compared to last year’s record pace. As of Sunday, USDA reports 73 percent of the corn crop was harvested, two points ahead of average, but more than 20% less than last year at this time. The soybean harvest is 86% complete, which is a bit ahead of normal, and only about six percent behind last year.

Found this YouTube video from Cross Implement in central Illinois using Luke Bryan’s Harvest Time to help celebrate this special time of year!