A Record Harvest For Minnesota Farmers

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — With Minnesota's fall harvest nearly over, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has boosted forecasts for what were already expected to be record corn and soybean crops.

Tuesday's update estimates Minnesota's corn production at 1.45 billion bushels, or 5 percent higher than the record set in 2012. Yields are projected to average 187 bushels per acre, up 31 bushels from 2014 and 10 above the record set in 2010.

Minnesota soybean production is forecast at 379 million bushels, which is 15 percent above the 2010 record. Yields are projected at 50 bushels per acre, beating a record 45.5 bushels in 2005.

Sugar beet production is forecast at 12.1 million tons, the second-largest on record, with a record yield of 28 tons per acre, topping the record of 26.6 tons set in 2010.