ND corn, bean crops expected to be record size

FARGO, N.D. -- North Dakota's corn and soybean crops are expected to be record size.

The Agriculture Department in its latest forecast pegs the North Dakota corn crop at 390 million bushels, up 16 percent from September and up 80 percent from last year. Soybean production is forecast at 160 million bushels _ up 25 percent over the month and up 42 percent over the year.

Flooding in 2011 hurt many North Dakota crops, leading to sizable increases this year. The state's dry edible bean crop also is expected to be a record, and sunflower and canola production both are forecast to be up more than 60 percent from last year.