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Statistics Service Forecast Indicates Increase in Crop Yields

First Forecast Indicates Increase in Crop Yields

According to the Georgia Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the first forecast of Georgia's row crops indicates all yields are up from last year except for peanuts, which show a slight decline. Production of cotton, corn, and tobacco are down, while production of peanuts and soybeans is up.

Temperatures during the growing season have averaged above normal and most areas of the State have suffered through drought conditions during the summer, although showers were on the increase during July. This trend continued into early August. Irrigation has been very active this year.

This forecast is based on a survey of growers and field measurements around August 1. Forecasted yields could change based on precipitation, disease, insect pressures and harvest weather in the coming weeks.

Georgia's 2008 cotton crop is forecast to average 809 pounds of lint per harvested acre, eight pounds per acre more than last year’s yield of 801 pounds per acre. Acreage to be harvested this fall is estimated at 890,000, down 105,000 acres from last year. Production is estimated at 1,500,000 bales, 10 percent less than last year’s 1,660,000 bales.

Corn yield for 2008 is expected to average 140 bushels per harvested acre, 10 bushels more than last year’s yield of 130 bushels per acre. If this yield is realized, it will be a State record. Georgia’s corn production is expected to total 44.8 million bushels from 320,000 acres harvested for grain. Production of this size would be 23 percent less than last year.

Peanut production in Georgia is forecast at 1.98 billion pounds, compared with last year’s 1.64 billion pounds. Harvested acres are expected to be 640,000 compared with 520,000 in 2007. Yields across Georgia’s peanut belt are expected to average 3,100 pounds per acre compared with 3,150 pounds last year.

Soybean yields in Georgia are forecast to average 30 bushels per harvested acre. Production is forecast at 12.2 million bushels, up from 8.25 million bushels last year. Harvested acres are estimated to be 405,000 acres. This compares to 275,000 acres harvested in 2007.

Tobacco yields for 2008 are expected to average 2,450 pounds per acre, 300 pounds more than last year’s yield of 2,150 pounds per acre. Acres  for harvest are expected to be 16,000, 2,500 acres less than last year. This puts potential production at 39.2 million pounds for 2008, one percent less than in 2007.

Hay production is expected to total 1.47 million tons, 22 percent more than last year. Potential yields are forecast at 2.10 tons per acre, compared with 1.80 tons in 2007. Acreage cut for hay totals 700,000 acres, up 30,000 acres from last year.