Lower corn yields expected in 2014/soybean, cotton and peanut yields up

According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the 2014 corn crop in Virginia is forecast at 51.8 million bushels, down seven percent from last year. This is based on August 1 conditions as surveyed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The average corn yield is forecast at 140 bushels per acre, down 14 bushels from last year. Acreage harvested for grain is estimated at 370,000, up 10,000 acres from last year.

Soybean producers currently expect to harvest 590,000 acres with an average yield of 40 bushels per acre, up two bushels from last year’s yield. Production is expected to total 23.6 million bushels, up five percent from last year.

Cotton yield is forecast to average 1,076 pounds per acre, up 135 pounds from last year’s 941 pounds per acre. If realized, production would be 195,000 bales, up 29 percent from last year. Producers expect to harvest 87,000 acres in 2014, up 13 percent from last year.

Peanut yield is forecast at 4,200 pounds per acre, up 200 pounds from last year. If realized, this will tie 2012’s record average yield. Production is forecast at 75.6 million pounds, up 18 percent from 2013’s production.

Flue-cured tobacco producers currently expect yields to average 2,300 pounds, up 100 pounds from 2013. Production is forecast at 50.6 million pounds from 22,000 acres.

Burley tobacco yields are expected to average 1,950 pounds, up 50 pounds from last year. Production is expected to total 4.88 million pounds, up seven percent from 2013.

Fire-cured tobacco yields are expected to average 2,000 pounds per acre, down 150 pounds from 2013. Production is forecast at 660,000 pounds, down 12 percent from 2013.

Alfalfa hay production is forecast to be 19 percent below last year. All other hay production is down four percent.

Winter wheat yield is forecast at 68 bushels per acre compared with 62 bushels per acre a year earlier. Production is expected to total 18.0 million bushels, which is up six percent from the previous year.

Barley production is forecast at 2.41 million bushels, down 28 percent from last year. Yield is forecast at 73 bushels per acre, down 9 bushels per acre from last year.