Crop Production In Dakotas At Different Extremes

Crop production in the two Dakotas this year couldn't be more different.

While South Dakota is expecting big production drops because of the drought, North Dakota is anticipating huge production increases as farmers rebound from devastating flooding last year.

The most recent government estimates predict a 37 percent increase in North Dakota's spring wheat crop and a 152 percent increase in durum wheat. Analysts at the market information company DTN say the increased production could be a factor in weaker market prices this year.

In South Dakota, the soybean crop is expected to be down 8 percent and the corn crop down 21 percent. DTN analysts say that alone isn't likely to influence markets, but it also doesn't help the situation as concerns continue to grow over total U.S. supplies.