(AP) — Nebraska’s corn crop is forecast at 1.61 billion bushels for 2013, up 24 percent from last year

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a news release Thursday that the area harvested for grain is estimated at 9.8 million acres, up 8 percent from a year ago. The USDA says that as of Sept. 1, the average yield is forecast at 164 bushels per acre, up 22 bushels from last year.

Soybean production is forecast at 223 million bushels, 8 percent above last year. The area for harvest is estimated at 4.75 million acres, which is down 5 percent from 2012. Yield is forecast at 47 bushels per acre, up 5.5 bushels from 2012.

Sorghum production is forecast at 4.96 million bushels, up 40 percent from a year ago.