The U.S. Department Of Agriculture forecasts production of both grains will top last year's output by two percent, which is the current record. It's also forecasting corn production of 13.4-billion bushels in 2010 and soybean production of 3.43-billion bushels.
Corn yields also are expected to be the best on record, while soybean yields should match last year's all-time high figure. The U.S.D.A. says production of cotton and wheat also will rise this year.
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California and northwest peaches are facing their stiffest competition in years.
Capitol Press reports, the harvest in other peach-growing states has created an overflow of the fruit. North Carolina and Georgia peach crops are larger and later than normal. California peach growers likely will just break even this year unless they have extra-large-sized fruit.
Some 25 to 30 percent of the California crop is exported, mainly to Taiwan, Mexico and Canada. California picks peaches through October, mainly on the east side of the San Joaquin Valley between Fresno and Bakersfield.
