Report: Agricultural production in Virginia for 2015

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced the state’s estimated agricultural production for 2015. Statistics are from the USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service.

Corn production in Virginia for 2015 is estimated at 48.3 million bushels, down 3 percent from the November forecast and down 5 percent from the previous crop. Yield was estimated at 161 bushels per acre, up 1 bushel from the November forecast and up 16 bushels from the 2014 level. Acres for harvest as grain were estimated at 300,000 acres, down 50,000 acres from 2014.

Soybean production for Virginia is estimated at 21.4 million bushels, down 7 percent from the November forecast and down 15 percent from 2014. Yield was estimated at 34.5 bushels per acre, down 2.5 bushels from the November forecast and down 5 bushels from a year ago. Acreage for harvest as beans was estimated at 620,000 acres, down 20,000 acres from the previous year.

Virginia cotton production is estimated at 144,000 bales, up 1 percent from the December forecast but down 35 percent from last year. Cotton yields were estimated at 823 pounds per acre, up 6 pounds from last month forecast but down 416 pounds per acre from the previous year. Producers harvested 84,000 acres, unchanged from last month forecast but down 2,000 acres from 2014.

Flue-cured tobacco production is estimated at 49.5 million pounds, up 2 percent from the October forecast but down 8 percent from 2014. Yield was estimated at 2,300 pounds per acre, unchanged pounds from October forecast but down 100 pounds from the 2014 crop. Harvested acreage was estimated at 21,500 acres, down 1,000 acres from last year’s crop.

Production of Virginia dark fire-cured tobacco is estimated at 575,000 pounds, down 21 percent from the previous year. Burley tobacco production is estimated at 2.41 million pounds, down 18 percent from last year.

Peanut farmers in Virginia are estimated to produce 73.2 million pounds for 2015, down 13 percent from last year. Acres harvested were estimated at 19,000 acres, unchanged acres from last year. Peanut yield is estimated at 3,850 pounds per acre, down 600 pounds from 2014.

Alfalfa hay production by Virginia farmers is forecast at 225,000 tons, down 12 percent the 2014 level. Other hay production in Virginia is estimated at 2.42 million tons, unchanged from last year.