Source: NCDA&CS, 9/14/21

The National Agricultural Statistics Service recently released its September crop production estimates and yield is projected up from the August forecast for corn and cotton. Yields of tobacco, corn, cotton, soybeans and peanuts are projected to be above 2020 numbers as well.

Today’s Topic with Southern Farm Network’s Mike Davis

The National Agricultural Statistics Service recently released its September crop production report and yields are looking to be up from the August forecast for both cotton and corn.
• Overall, the projections for September are looking at greater yields in 2021 for tobacco, corn, cotton, soybeans and peanuts compared to 2020.
• I like getting these snapshots of production, because it can give me some insight into how growing conditions have been. Of course, growing crops is just one part of the equation. Harvesting and selling are the other essential parts and we’ve got a few months to go to wrap up the season.
• I will say that I have seen some good-looking crops in my travels around the state.
• Corn yields are estimated to be 142 bushels an acre, which is up 29 bushels from last year. That is close to the record 150 bushels an acre that was set in 2017.
• Production is forecast to be up 20 percent from 2020, even with 40,000 less acres planted.
• Cotton yields are looking to be up 50 pounds per acre at 809 pounds this year. The forecast is for production to be up 13 percent over 2020, at around 590,000 bales.
• Farmers are growing 20,000 more acres of cotton.
• Peanut yields are looking to be down 100 pounds per acre this year at 3,900 pounds. Production is still projected to be up a modest 4 percent at 440.7 million pounds.
• Peanut acreage is up 7,000 acres.
• Soybean yield projections are estimated at 39 bushels per acre, up from 37 bushels in 2020. The total production forecast is 63.6 million bushels, which is up 9 percent.
• Growers expect to harvest 1.63 million acres.
• We are anticipating a much bigger tobacco crop this year. Production is forecast at 240 million pounds, which is up 31 percent. Yield is estimated to be up 200 pounds per acre and farmers are growing an additional 18,000 acres.