The U.S. Agriculture Department has lowered its predictions for the drought-stunted corn crops in 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.

The Nebraska soybean crop is forecast at 203 million bushels, the same figure as October and 22 percent below 2011.