Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 10/12/17

“Yields in early harvested soybean fields are trending up with a slight increase as compared to the September 1 forecast and just one bushel away from the 2014 record 40 bus/acre yield.” said Dee Webb, North Carolina state statistician. “However, with almost 90% of corn for grain harvested producers reported a 4 bushel decrease in corn yield. Cotton forecasted yield also dropped with a 59 pounds/acre difference from the September 1 forecast. Most other crop yields remained steady. North Carolina farmers in the central part of the state are also experiencing abnormally dry conditions.”

Corn for grain
• Yield is forecast at 138 bushels per acre, down 4 bushels from last month’s forecast of 142 bushels per acre.
• Production is forecast to total 114.5 million bushels, down 6% from the 121.3 million bushels produced last year.
• Harvested acres are forecast at 830,000, down from the 940,000 acres harvested in 2016.

Cotton
• Yield is forecast at 921 pounds per acre, down 59 pounds per acre from the September 1 forecast.
• Production is forecast at 700,000 bales, up 104% from last year’s production of 343,000 bales.
• Harvested acres are expected to total 365,000 acres compared with 255,000 acres harvested in 2016.

Peanuts
• Yield per acre is forecast at 4,100 pounds, same as last month’s forecast.
• Production is forecast at 484 million pounds, up 38% from last year’s production of 349 million pounds.
• Harvested acres are projected at 118,000 acres, up 19,000 acres from 2016.

Soybeans
• Yield is forecast to average 39 bushels per acre, up 1 bushel from the September 1 forecast.
• Production is forecast to total 65 million bushels, up 12% from last year’s production of 58 million bushels.
• Harvested acres are projected at 1.67 million, up slightly  from last year.

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