LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Corn production in Kentucky is forecast at 268 million bushels, up 1% from the August forecast but up 6% from the previous crop. Yield was estimated at 185 bushels per acre, up 2.0 bushels from last month and up 1.0 bushels from the 2020 level. Acres for harvest as grain were estimated at 1.45 million acres, up 70,000 acres from 2020. The U.S. corn production is forecast at 15.0 billion bushels, up 2% from the August forecast and up 6% from last year’s production. Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 176.3 bushels per acre, up 1.7 bushels from last month and up 4.3 bushels from 2020. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 85.1 million acres, up 1% from the August forecast and up 3% from 2020.
Soybean production for Kentucky is forecast at 98.5 million bushels, down 6% from the August forecast and down 3% from 2020. Yield was estimated at 55.0 bushels per acre, up 1.0 bushel from last month and unchanged from a year ago. Acreage for harvest as beans was estimated at 1.79 million acres, down 50,000 acres from the previous year. U.S. soybean production is forecast at 4.37 billion bushels, up 1% from the August forecast and up 6% from last year. Based on September 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 50.6 bushels per acre, up 0.6 bushel from last month and up 0.4 bushels from last year. Area for harvest is forecast at 86.4 million acres, down slightly from the August forecast, but up 5% from 2020.
Kentucky burley tobacco production is forecast at 74.0 million pounds, unchanged from the August forecast and up 3% from 2020. Yield is projected at 2,000 pounds per acre, unchanged from last month and up 50 pounds from the 2020 crop. Harvested acreage was estimated at 37,000 acres, unchanged from last year’s crop. For the burley producing states production is forecast at 87.2 million pounds, up 3% from last year. Burley growers plan to harvest 43,450 acres, up slightly from 2020. Yields are expected to average 2,006 pounds per acre, up 50 pounds from last year.
Production of Kentucky dark fire-cured tobacco is forecast at 28.7 million pounds, up 5% from the August forecast and up 38% from the previous year. Dark air-cured tobacco production is forecast at 16.8 million pounds, up 9% from the August forecast and up 17% from last year.
— USDA, NASS, Kentucky Field Office
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