LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – The U.S. Agriculture Department has lowered its predictions for the drought-stunted corn crops in Iowa and Nebraska. The USDA says that, based on Nov. 1 conditions, it expects a Nebraska crop of 1.27 billion bushels. That’s down more than 2 percent from the October forecast and 17 percent below last year.  In Iowa, a corn crop of 1.90 billion bushels is expected, which is more than 1 percent less than October and down 19 percent from last year.

The Nebraska soybean crop is forecast at 203 million bushels, the same figure as October and 22 percent below 2011.  In Iowa, a soybean crop of 409 million bushels is expected, more than 2.5 percent higher than the October figure but still 14 percent under last year.