Corn production for this year was cut by four percent in the latest forecast out this morning from USDA, a bigger drop than expected by the industry. Corn production is now forecast at 12.7 billion bushels, down 3 percent from last year’s record production of 13.1 billion bushels. Yields are now expected to average 155.8 bushels per acre, down 6.7 bushels from the previous month and 8.9 bushels below last year’s record of 164.7 bushels.

The latest supply-demand numbers reflecting the new forecast show a decrease in stocks, increase in feed use, decrease in exports, but use of corn for ethanol remains the same at 4.7 billion bushels.

In response to the report, the president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) said U.S. corn farmers will still be able to meet all demands for food, feed, fuel and exports.

“We have had many reports of lower yields and, at the same time, are hearing stories of higher-than expected yields in some areas,” said NCGA President Bart Schott of North Dakota. “This may not be a record year, but we’re bringing in the corn and meeting all needs, even for our export markets.”

The report came out today as the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) were wrapping up a seminar in Chicago promoting exports of the ethanol by-product distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS). USGC President and CEO Tom Dorr was not very concerned about the new numbers. “I’ve been a farmer most of my life and the thing that I know is that farmers, more often than not, swim in surpluses, they love dealing with shortfalls and they’ll produce our way out of this very quickly,” Dorr said.

Listen to or download an interview with Dorr reacting to the report today: Tom Dorr Interview