The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service released the August Crop Production report forecasting larger Virginia soybean and corn crops. This month’s report is the first of the season to forecast row crop production.
“The soybean crop experienced a very hot, humid and mostly dry growing season with scattered rains, however in late June and then again in late July the crop received some heavy rains,” said Herman Ellison, Virginia state statistician. “By August 5, the soybean crop was rated 78 percent good-to-excellent.”
Soybean production for Virginia is forecast at 26.2 million bushels, up 1 percent from 2017. Yield was estimated at 43.0 bushels per acre, down 1.0 bushels from a year ago.
“Some corn producers reported the dry and hot weather stressed their crop during tasseling while others reported seeing very good crops,” Ellison said. “Some producers were concerned about the heavy rainfalls leading to sprouting that could potentially cause some rotting.”
Corn production in Virginia was forecast at 48.8 million bushels, up 3 percent from the previous crop. Yield was estimated at 148 bushels per acre, up 8 bushels from the 2017 level. Acres for harvest as grain were estimated at 330,000 acres, down 10,000 acres from 2017.
Virginia farmers expect to harvest 9.00 million bushels of winter wheat during 2018. The expected crop for 2018 would be down 6 percent from the previous year. Growers expect a yield of 60.0 bushels per acre, down 6.0 bushels from 2017 and up 1.0 bushels from July. Farmers expect to harvest 150,000 acres for grain.
Barley producers in Virginia forecast harvesting 792,000 bushels for 2018, down 1 percent from last year. Acres expected to be harvested for grain total 11,000 acres, unchanged from last year. Producers expect a yield of 72.0 bushels per acre, up 5.0 from last month but down 1.0 bushel from 2017..
Virginia cotton production is projected to be 185,000 bales, down 4 percent from last year. Cotton yields are forecast to average 1,057 pounds per acre, down 53 pounds per acre from the previous year. Producers expect to harvest 84,000 acres, up 1,000 acres from 2017.
Peanut farmers in Virginia anticipate harvesting 96.6 million pounds for 2018, down 21 percent from last year. Acres expected to be harvested total 23,000 acres, down 4,000 from last year. Producers expect a yield of 4,200 pounds per acre, down 350 pounds from 2017.
Virginia flue-cured tobacco production was forecast at 50.6 million pounds, unchanged from 2017. Yield was projected at 2,300 pounds per acre, unchanged pounds from the 2017 crop. Harvested acreage was estimated at 22,000 acres, unchanged acres from last year’s crop. Production of Virginia dark fire-cured tobacco was forecast at 532,000 pounds, down 8 percent from the previous year. Virginia burley tobacco production was forecast at 1.80 million pounds, down 18 percent from last year.
Virginia alfalfa hay production is forecast at 153,000 tons, 21 percent below the 2017 level. Virginia other hay production was estimated at 2.52 million tons, down 5 percent from last year.
Thank you to all the farmers for taking time to complete the August Agricultural Yield Survey,” Ellison said. “We appreciate their efforts during the busy growing season.”
NASS gathered data for the August Agricultural Yield Survey earlier this month. The monthly yield surveys begin in May with the focus on small grains through July and shifts to row crops beginning in August.
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/.
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