RICHMOND, Va. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service released the November Crop Production report on Nov. 9, showing an increase in projected yields for corn, soybeans, and peanuts from October. Cotton is holding steady, with forecast production still up 90 percent from 2016.
“Yield forecasts improved when compared with a month ago,” said Herman Ellison, Virginia state statistician. “Prospects for corn, soybeans and peanuts all increased based on Nov. 1, conditions. Harvest progress went well during the month of October and is wrapping up.”
Soybean production for Virginia is forecast at 26.6 million bushels, up seven percent from the October forecast and up 23 percent from 2016. Yield was estimated at 45 bushels per acre, up three bushels from last month and up nine bushels from a year ago. Acreage for harvest as beans was estimated at 590,000 acres, down 10,000 acres from the previous year. U.S. soybean production is forecast at 4.43 billion bushels, down slightly from the October forecast and up three percent from last year. Based on Nov. 1, conditions, yields are expected to average 49.5 bushels per acre, unchanged from last month and down 2.5 bushels from last year. Area for harvest is forecast at 89.5 million acres, unchanged from the October forecast and up eight percent from 2016.
“As of Oct. 29, more than half of the soybean crop was harvested,” Ellison said. “The farmers’ surveys showed an increase in yield expectations from Oct. 1. If realized, this will be the highest yield and production on record for soybeans.”
Virginia cotton production is projected to be 190,000 bales, unchanged from the October forecast and up 90 percent from last year. Cotton yields are forecast to average 1,099 pounds per acre, unchanged from last month and up 432 pounds per acre from the previous year. Producers expect to harvest 83,000 acres, unchanged from the October forecast and up 11,000 acres from 2016. U.S. cotton production was forecast at 21.4 million 480-pound bales, up one percent from the October forecast and up 25 percent from 2016. Yields are forecast to average 900 pounds per acre, up 11 pounds from last month and up 33 pounds from last year. Upland cotton production is forecast at 20.7 million 480-pound bales, up 24 percent from 2016. Pima cotton production is forecast at 727,000 480-pound bales, up 28 percent from 2016.
Corn production in Virginia is forecast at 52.4 million bushels, up one percent from the October forecast and up four percent from the previous crop. Yield was estimated at 154 bushels per acre, up two bushels from last month and up six bushels from the 2016 level. Acres for harvest as grain were estimated at 340,000 acres, unchanged from 2016. The U.S. corn production is forecast at 14.6 billion bushels, up two percent from the October forecast and down four percent from 2016. Based on conditions as of Nov. 1, yields are expected to average 175.4 bushels per acre, up 3.6 bushels from last month and up 0.8 bushel from 2016. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 83.1 million acres, unchanged from the October forecast and down four percent from 2016.
Peanut farmers in Virginia anticipate harvesting 120 million pounds for 2017, up 57 percent from 2016. Acres expected to be harvested total 27,000 acres, up 6,000 from last year. Producers expect a yield of 4,450 pounds per acre, up 800 pounds from 2016. National peanut production is forecast to be 7.64 billion, up 37 percent from last year. Acres harvested are projected to total 1.83 million acres, up 19 percent from the previous year. Yields are anticipated to average 4,176 pounds per acre, up 542 pound per acre from 2016.
“Thank you to all the farmers for taking time to complete the November Agricultural Yield Survey,” Ellison said. “We appreciate their efforts during the busy growing season.”
NASS gathered data for the November Crop Production Report from the Agricultural Yield Survey earlier this month. The monthly yield surveys begin in May with the focus on small grains through July and shift to row crops beginning in August through the remainder of the growing season.
All reports are available on the NASS website: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Calendar/reports_by_date.php.
For more information about Virginia surveys and reports, call the NASS Virginia Field Office at (800) 772-0670, or visit https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Virginia/.
— U.S. Department of Agriculture | National Agricultural Statistics Service