Source: USDA'S NASS NC FIELD OFFICE, 10/13/14

Corn for grain

• Yield is forecast at 136 bushels per acre, down 6 bushels from last year’s yield of 142 bushels per acre.

• Production is forecast to total 106.1 million bushels, down 14% from last year.  

• Harvested acres are forecast at 780,000 acres, down from 870,000 acres from 2013.  

Cotton

• Yield is forecast at 950 pounds per acre, up 151 pounds from the 2013 yield of 799 pounds per acre.  

• Production is forecast at 910,000 bales, up 19% from last year’s production of 766,000 bales.  

• Harvested acres are expected to total 460,000 acres, equal to the 460,000 acres harvested in 2013.  

September Weather Summary: Normal precipitation and average temperatures dominated the weather most of September. The exception was the week ending September 14 where as much as 7 and 8 inches were reported in some locations.  By the end of the month farmers were concentrating on harvesting corn, sweet potatoes and tobacco.  As of September 28th statewide topsoil moisture levels were at 1% very short, 9% short, 74% adequate and 16% surplus.    

Peanuts

• Yield per acre is forecast at 4,000 pounds, up 100 pounds per acre from 2013.

• Production is forecast at 372 million pounds, up 18% from last year’s production.

• Harvested acres are projected at 93,000 acres, up 12,000 acres from 2013.    

Soybeans

• Yield is forecast to average 39 bushels per acre, up 5.5 bushels from last year, and tied the record set in 2012.  

• Production is forecast to total 67.1 million bushels, up 38% from last year’s production of 48.6 million bushels.  

• Harvested acres are projected at 1.72 million acres, an increase of 270 acres from the 1.45 million acres harvested last year.  

Flue-cured tobacco  

• Yield per acre is forecast at 2,400 pounds, up 400 pounds from 2013 yield of 2,000 pounds

• Production is forecast at 434 million pounds, 21% higher than the 360 million pounds produced in 2013.

• Acres for harvest are estimated at 181,000 up 1,000 acres from last year.  

Other Hay

• Yield per acre is forecast at 2.5 tons per acre, up .1 ton from last year and .1 ton below the 2003 record of 2.6.

• Production is forecast at 1.93 million tons, 6% below the 2.04 million tons produced in 2013.

• Acres for harvest are estimated at 770,000 acres, down 80,000 acres from 2013.  

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