USDA Predicts Record Corn Crop In Indiana

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is predicting that Indiana farmers will bring in a record corn crop for the second straight year.

The USDA expects Indiana farmers to turn out more than 1 billion bushels of corn, compared with the 933 million bushels harvested last year. Officials also expect a record crop nationwide.

The USDA says Indiana's hot, rainy summer has been good for Indiana field crops. Many farmers started planting in early April, and in untimely May corn planting set a record pace.

Purdue agricultural economist Chris Hurt says the corn production will allow farmers to meet specify for food and ethanol.

The USDA report is the first indicator of predictable crop production for 2010.