SOYBEAN, CORN ACREAGE UP

Corn and soybean crops in Missouri are the largest in a number of years.

The corn crop, more than 2.9 million acres, is up 7 percent from 1996, which was the largest corn acreage since 1976. Corn production, however, may be down. A yield of 108 bushels an acre is forecast, down 26 bushels an acre from the record year of 1996. Corn acreage in the United States, 80.2 million acres, is the largest since 1985.

Soybean acreage is 4.9 million acres, up 20 percent from last year, highest since 1987. Production is expected to be up, with a projected yield of 34 bushes an acres.

Soybeans in the United States, 70.9 million acres, is up 10 percent from last year.