Federal forecast: Abundant corn, soybean crops expected again in Indiana, nation

The government is forecasting Indiana and the nation will have bumper crops of corn and soybeans for the second straight year, further holding down prices paid to farmers.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service report released Tuesday says both total production and average yields per acre nationally for corn and soybeans could set records.

The report says Indiana farmers are on track to harvest 1.04 billion bushels of corn, surpassing the record 1.03 billion harvested last year. Nationwide, farmers are projected to produce a record 14 billion bushels.

Indiana's soybean crop could reach nearly 280 million bushels, compared with 265 million last year. Farmers nationwide could produce a record 3.8 billion bushels.

Purdue University Agriculture Dean Jay Akridge says good weather across the nation has provided "almost ideal growing conditions."