Despite a cool summer, crop production specialists are predicting a record-setting year.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service, an agency that does crop statistics for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is predicting higher production in all crop areas — including key Iowa crops, corn and soybeans.

Kendall Lamkey, professor of agronomy, is also predicting record yields.

“We’re going to have a good crop, unless weather plays a role,” Lamkey said.

Fairfield farmer, Michael Adam, is also looking forward to the upcoming harvest. The cool weather helped with corn pollination, and Adam is predicting 200 bushels per acre.

“We’ve not suffered for moisture,” Adam said. “It’s going to be a bumper crop.”

For Iowa, corn is predicted at 162 bushels per acre, which is up five bushels from last year. Totals for the state are estimated at nearly 2 billion bushels up from 1.88 billion bushels in 2003. National corn production is forecast to have an 8 percent increase from last year and 22 percent above 2002.

If realized, both production and yield would be the largest on record, according to the NASS.

Soybean production is also up for 2004. Iowa production is at 42 bushels per acre, up 10 bushels from last year. Statewide totals are predicted at 434 million bushels, up from 337 million bushels in 2003. Totals nationwide are forecast to increase 19 percent from 2003 and 4 percent from 2002.

Roger Norgren, who farms south of Rippey, agrees with the predictions.

“We need some warm weather now to mature to crop,” Norgren said. “We’re looking at a real good year for corn and beans.”

Adam said his soybeans still look good and is predicting soybeans at 50 bushels per acre, despite bean leaf beetles, sudden death syndrome and white mold.

With crop production so high, the focus then turns to market price. Lamkey said high crop predictions have already had an effect on prices.

“It’s a Catch-22,” he said. “Record yields are generally good for farmers, but tend to suppress crop prices.”

Iowa grain elevators were buying corn at $2.05 and soybeans at $5.90. July averages this year were at $2.18 for corn and $7.76 for soybeans.