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Midwest Awaits Bumper Corn Crop

Ideal growing weather wipes out flood fears

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 13, 2008 8:19 AM CDT

(Newser) – America's farmers are on track to deliver the second-biggest corn harvest ever despite June floods, according to the Department of Agriculture. Shortages were predicted after severe flooding swamped fields, but the Midwest has had ideal corn-growing weather since, the New York Times reports. A healthy soybean crop is also expected.

“We dodged a bullet,” said a grains analyst. Corn futures have fallen back from the record-breaking levels that many had feared could ruin livestock producers. Farmers are not counting their grain before it's harvested, however. Some say government figures are on the optimistic side and warn that an early frost could still hit yields hard.

A  mountain of  75,000 bushels of corn at a grain facility in Texas.
A mountain of 75,000 bushels of corn at a grain facility in Texas.   (AP Photo/Temple Daily Telegram, Scott Gaulin)
Corn plants in a field near Grimes, Iowa.
Corn plants in a field near Grimes, Iowa.   (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Ears of corn run riot near Perry, Iowa.
Ears of corn run riot near Perry, Iowa.   (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
A conveyor adds another 1000 bushels to the mountain of 75,000 bushels at a grain facility in Texas.
A conveyor adds another 1000 bushels to the mountain of 75,000 bushels at a grain facility in Texas.   (AP Photo/Temple Daily Telegram, Scott Gaulin)
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