RICHMOND, Va. — Corn production in Virginia is estimated at 51.2 million bushels, down 5% from the November forecast and down 6% from the previous crop. Yield was estimated at 122 bushels per acre, down 9 bushels from the previous forecast and down 22 bushels from the 2019 level. Acres for harvest as grain were estimated at 420,000 acres, up 40,000 acres from 2019. The U.S. corn production is estimated at 14.2 billion bushels, down 2% from the November forecast and up 4% from 2019. Yields averaged 172.0 bushels per acre, down 3.8 bushels from the previous forecast and up 4.5 bushels from 2019. Area harvested for grain is estimated at 82.5 million acres, down slightly from the November forecast and up 1% from 2019.
Soybean production for Virginia is estimated at 23.5 million bushels, up 2% from the November forecast and up 24%
from 2019. Yield was estimated at 42 bushels per acre, up 1.0 bushel from last month and up 8 bushels from a year ago. Acreage for harvest as beans was estimated at 560,000 acres, unchanged acres from the previous year. U.S. soybean production is forecast at 4.14 billion bushels, down 1% from the November forecast and up 16% from last year. Yields were estimated at 50.2 bushels per acre, down 0.5 bushels from last month and up 2.8 bushels from last year. Area for harvest is estimated at 82.3 million acres, up slightly from the November forecast and up 10% from 2019.
Virginia cotton production is estimated at 160,000 bales, up 7% from the December forecast and down 34% from last
year. Cotton yields were estimated at 972 pounds per acre, up 61 pounds from last month and down 172 pounds per acre from the previous year. Producers harvested 79,000 acres, unchanged from the December forecast and down 23,000 acres from 2019. U.S. cotton production totaled 15.0 million 480-pound bales, down 6% from the December forecast and down 25% from 2019. Yields were estimated at 825 pounds per acre, down 25 pounds from last month and up 2 pounds from last year. Upland cotton production is estimated at 14.4 million 480-pound bales, down 25% from 2019. Pima cotton production is estimated at 552,000 480-pound bales, down 19% from 2019.
Peanut farmers in Virginia are estimated to produce 111 million pounds for 2020, down 1% from last year. Acres
harvested were estimated at 27,000 acres, up 3,000 acres from last year. Peanut yield is estimated at 4,100 pounds per acre, down 550 pounds from 2019. U.S. peanut production was estimated at 6.13 billion pounds, up 12% from last year. Acres harvested are projected to total 1.62 million acres, up 16% from the previous year. Yields averaged 3,796 pounds per acre, down 138 pound per acre from 2019.
Virginia flue-cured tobacco production is estimated at 26.4 million pounds, up 5% from the October forecast and down 7% from 2019. Yield was estimated at 2,200 pounds per acre, up 100 pounds from October forecast and up 300 pounds from the 2019 crop. Harvested acreage was estimated at 12,000 acres, down 3,000 acres from last year’s crop. U.S. production is estimated at 238 million pounds, down 20% from last year. Flue-cured growers harvested 127,900 acres, down 14% from 2019. Yields were estimated at 1,858 pounds per acre, down 132 pounds from last year.
Production of Virginia dark fire-cured tobacco is estimated at 475,000 pounds, down 18% from the previous year.
Burley tobacco production is estimated at 680,000 pounds, down 49% from last year.
Alfalfa hay production by Virginia farmers is forecast at 126,000 tons, down 7% the 2019 level. Other hay production in Virginia is estimated at 2.59 million tons, up 7% from last year.
–USDA, NASS