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(UNDATED) -- The Midwest is looking at a possible record corn crop this year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is predicting 16.7 billion bushels, a 13% increase in the corn harvest this year.
Economist Chad Hart of Iowa State University says the large supply of corn will likely lower corn prices and that makes it harder for farmers to profit.
"We're looking at not only a record corn yield but corn production nationwide. It's not just a record by a little. It's a record by a lot," said Hart.
Hart says the predicted record corn harvest is not likely to lower corn prices at the grocery store but it could keep meat prices down.
"A lot of this corn is grown for livestock feed, helping to at least lower the production cost for the meat," said Hart.
The USDA reports Iowa is the top corn grower, Illinois is second, Nebraska third in the United States.