RICHMOND, Va. — Corn Virginia is estimated at 56.8 million bushels, up slightly from the November forecast and down 1% from the previous crop. Yield was estimated at 167 bushels per acre, up 3 bushels from the previous forecast and up 7 bushels from the 2021 level. Acres for harvest as grain were estimated at 340,000 acres, down 20,000 acres from 2021. The U.S. corn production is estimated at 13.7 billion bushels, down 1% from the November forecast and down 9% from 2021. Yields averaged 173.3 bushels per acre, up 1.0 bushels from the previous forecast and down 3.4 bushels from 2021. Area harvested for grain is estimated at 79.2 million acres, down 2% from the November forecast and down 7% from 2021.
Soybean production for Virginia is estimated at 25.0 million bushels, down 5% from the November forecast and down 8% from 2021. Yield was estimated at 41 bushels per acre, down 2.0 bushels from last month and down 5 bushels from a year ago. Acreage for harvest as beans was estimated at 610,000 acres, up 20,000 acres from the previous year. U.S. soybean production is forecast at 4.28 billion bushels, down 2% from the November forecast and down 4% from last year. Yields were estimated at 49.5 bushels per acre, down 0.7 bushels from last month and down 2.2 bushels from last year. Area for harvest is estimated at 86.3 million acres, down slightly from the November forecast and up slightly from 2021.
Virginia cotton production is estimated at 215,000 bales, up 8% from the last month forecast and up 26% from last year. Cotton yields were estimated at 1,147 pounds per acre, up 74 pounds from last month and up 38 pounds per acre from the previous year. Producers harvested 90,000 acres, up 1,000 from the last month forecast and up 16,000 acres from 2021. U.S. cotton production totaled 14.7 million 480-pound bales, up 5% from the November forecast and down 16% from 2021. Yields were estimated at 947 pounds per acre, up 92 pounds from November and up 128 pounds from last year. Upland cotton production is estimated at 14.2 million 480-pound bales, down 17% from 2021. Pima cotton production is estimated at 474,000 480-pound bales, up 43% from 2021.
Peanut farmers in Virginia are estimated to produce 126 million pounds for 2022, down 11% from last year. Acres harvested were estimated at 28,000 acres, down 2,000 acres from last year. Peanut yield is estimated at 4,500 pounds per acre, down 200 pounds from 2021. U.S. peanut production was estimated at 5.57 billion pounds, down 12% from last year. Acres harvested are projected to total 1.39 million acres, down 10% from the previous year. Yields averaged 4,019 pounds per acre, down 111 pound per acre from 2021.
Virginia flue-cured tobacco production is estimated at 29.0 million pounds, up 6% from the October forecast and down 12% from 2021. Yield was estimated at 2,400 pounds per acre, up 200 pounds from October forecast and up 100 pounds from the 2021 crop. Harvested acreage was estimated at 12,100 acres, down 2,200 acres from last year’s crop. U.S. production is estimated at 303 million pounds, up slightly from last year. Flue-cured growers harvested 139,900 acres, down 6% from 2021. Yields were estimated at 2,163 pounds per acre, up 127 pounds from last year.
Production of Virginia dark fire-cured tobacco is estimated at 330,000 pounds, up 5% from the previous year. Burley tobacco production is estimated at 0.500 million pounds, down 34% from last year.
Alfalfa hay production by Virginia farmers is forecast at 96,000 tons, up 10% the 2021 level. Other hay production in Virginia is estimated at 2.10 million tons, up 5% from last year.
–USDA, NASS