LENOX TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Michigan farmers have reduced
the amount of land they use for growing corn, but yields are expected to
remain around or above average due to advancements in seed,
fertilizers, pesticides, machinery and production practices.
The Detroit News reports (http://bit.ly/1mNObcn
) weather and falling market prices caused farmers to start growing
corn later than usual this year. Michigan’s corn farming area has shrunk
by about 10,000 acres to 2.24 million.
Macomb County farmer John
Rhein of Lenox Township says he went from roughly 400 to 350 acres of
corn. He says the corn he planted is progressing well in the recent warm
weather.
Although cold and soggy weather in May delayed farmers
from planting, June’s temperatures, with highs in the 80s and lows in
the 50s, were ideal for growing corn.
An acre of corn in Michigan produces about 155 bushels, while the national average is about 159 bushels.

American farmers planted 91.6 million acres of corn nationally this year. That’s down 4 percent from
2013.
The price of corn has also fallen. Corn futures for September recently closed under $4 a bushel, among
the lowest in four years.
Lower
corn prices will likely have more of an impact on farmers than
consumers. Many farmers are opting to plant and grow other crops to make
up for this year’s corn losses.