Kansas: More Corn Less Water

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Kansas Corn Growers Association Statistics Information

2014 Kansas Corn Production
Total Corn Production: 566 million bushels
Yield: 149 bushels per acre
Area harvested: 3.8 million acres of corn for grain
2013 Top Five Counties, Corn Production (2014 figures to be released soon)
Brown County: 21 million bushels
Stevens County: 20 million bushels
Nemaha County: 17 million bushels
Meade County: 16.5 million bushels
Thomas County: 16.5 million bushels
* Source: Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service

Kansas harvested the third largest crop in the state’s history in 2014: 566 million bushels with a yield of 149 bushels per acre. US production was a record 14.2 billion bushels. The average US corn yield for 2014 was a record 171 bushels per acre—growing more corn on less land!

While Kansas Corn acres have doubled since the mid-1990s, irrigated corn acres have remained virtually unchanged over the past 20 years, at about 1.5 million acres.

20 years ago, only 28 percent of Kansas corn acres were non-irrigated. In 2013, 63% of Kansas corn acres were non-irrigated.

Non-irrigated corn yields in Kansas have increased 33% over the past 40 years. Irrigated corn yields in Kansas have increased 55% over the past 40 years.

In 2013, 37% of Kansas corn acres were irrigated, producing 57% of the crop. 63% of Kansas corn acres were non-irrigated, producing 43% of the crop.

Research and technology advances have helped irrigated farmers to grow more corn with less water.

Kansas’ vibrant livestock industry provides a market for most Kansas corn, followed by the ethanol industry that produces fuel ethanol and distillers grains for livestock.

The 2013 Kansas Corn Crop was the highest valued crop in Kansas, valued at $2.31 billion. Irrigated corn accounted for approximately $1.3 billion while non-irrigated corn accounted for $993 million in value.

Kansas Corn has been the highest valued Kansas crop 4 of the past 5 years with a record high value of over $3 billion in 2010.

Farmers use innovative and sustainable farming practices and technology to produce more corn on less land.

About 95 percent of the corn grown in Kansas is enhanced with biotechnology to help control pests, weeds and to help tolerate drought. Biotechnology helps farmers better implement conservation practices and use less farm chemicals.  In addition, new drought-tolerant traits show great promise to further help farmers grow bountiful crops in dry conditions.

The Kansas Corn Commission is a grower-elected board of corn farmers who determine how to invest the Kansas corn checkoff in the areas of market development, research, promotion and education.

The Kansas Corn Growers Association represents its members in legislative and regulatory issues, areas the commission cannot engage in.

 

 

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