RICHMOND, Va. — “Virginia agricultural producers expect the 2019 corn and soybean yields to be in line with the 2018 yields,” said Herman Ellison, Virginia State Statistician. “By August 4, the crops were rated in mostly fair-to-good condition and the crops development ahead of normal.”
Corn production in Virginia was forecast at 55.1 million bushels, up 16 percent from the previous crop. Yield was estimated at 147 bushels per acre, up 1 bushels from the 2018 level. Acres for harvest as grain were estimated at 375,000 acres, up 50,000 acres from 2018. The U.S corn production was forecast at 13.9 billion bushels, down 4 percent from 2018. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 169.5 bushels per acre, down 6.9 bushels from 2018. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 82.0 million acres, unchanged from the June forecast but up slightly from 2018.
Soybean production for Virginia is forecast at 24.1 million bushels, decreased 5 percent from 2018. Yield was estimated at 43.0 bushels per acre, unchanged bushels from a year ago. U.S. soybean production was forecast at 3.68 billion bushels, down 19 percent from last year. Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 48.5 bushels per acre, down 3.1 bushels from last year. Area for harvest is forecast at 75.9 million acres, down 14 percent from 2018.
Virginia farmers expect to harvest 7.48 million bushels of winter wheat during 2019. The expected crop for 2019 would be down 20 percent from the previous year. Growers expect a yield of 65.0 bushels per acre, up 5.0 bushels from 2018 and down 1.0 bushels from July. Farmers expect to harvest 115,000 acres for grain. Winter wheat production for the Nation was forecast at 1.33 billion bushels, up 12 percent from 2018. The United States yield is forecast at 53.2 bushels per acre, up 1.4 bushel from last month and up 5.3 bushels from last year. The expected area to be harvested for grain or seed totals 24.9 million acres, up 1 percent from last year.
Barley producers in Virginia forecast harvesting 630,000 bushels for 2019, unchanged from last year. Acres expected to be harvested for grain total 9,000 acres, unchanged from last year. Producers expect a yield of 70.0 bushels per acre, down 3.0 from last month but unchanged bushel from 2018. U. S. production is expected to total 172.2 million bushels, up 12 percent from last year. Acres harvested is forecast at 2.33 million acres, up 18 percent from last year. Growers nationwide anticipate a yield of 73.9 bushels per acre, up 0.6 bushels from the July forecast but down 3.5 bushels from 2018.
Virginia cotton production is projected to be 220,000 bales, up 22 percent from last year. Cotton yields are forecast to average 1,015 pounds per acre, up 119 pounds per acre from the previous year. Producers expect to harvest 104,000 acres, up 7,000 acres from 2018. U.S. cotton production was forecast at 22.5 million bales, up
USDA, NASS, Virginia Field Office Herman Ellison, State Statistician P.O. Box 1659 Richmond, Virginia 23218-1659 (804) 771-2493 or 1-800-772-0670 Email: nass-va@nass.usda.gov
In Cooperation with:
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Dr. Jewel H. Bronaugh, Commissioner
23 percent from 2018. Yields are forecast to average 855 pounds per acre, down 9 pounds from last year. Harvested acreage is estimated at 12.6 million acres, up 24 percent from the previous year.
Peanut farmers in Virginia anticipate harvesting 100 million pounds for 2019, down 1 percent from last year. Acres expected to be harvested total 25,000 acres, up 1,000 from last year. Producers expect a yield of 4,000 pounds per acre, down 200 pounds from 2018. U.S. peanut production was forecast at 5.30 billion pounds, down 3 percent from 2018. Yields are forecast to average 4,008 pounds per acre, up 17 pounds from last year. Harvested acreage is estimated at 1.32 million acres, down 3 percent from the previous year.
Virginia flue-cured tobacco production was forecast at 35.7 million pounds, down 15 percent from 2018. Yield was projected at 2,100 pounds per acre, up 100 pounds from the 2018 crop. Harvested acreage was estimated at 17,000 acres, down 4,000 acres from last year’s crop. U.S. flue-cured tobacco production was forecast at 315 million pounds, down 7 percent from last year. Tobacco growers plan to harvest 156,500 acres, down 21 percent from 2018. Yields were expected to average 2,011 pounds per acre, up 299 pounds from last year.
Production of Virginia dark fire-cured tobacco was forecast at 672,000 pounds, up 23 percent from the previous year. Virginia burley tobacco production was forecast at 1.26 million pounds, down 16 percent from last year.
Virginia alfalfa hay production is forecast at 135,000 tons, 13 percent above the 2018 level.
Virginia other hay production was estimated at 2.31 million tons, down 5 percent from last year.
“Thank you to all the producers for taking time to complete the August Agricultural Yield Survey,” Ellison said. “We appreciate their efforts during the busy growing season.”
–Herman Ellison, USDA/NASS