Source: NCDA&CS, 9/20/16

The state forecast for corn, cotton and peanuts continues to look strong, according to the latest USDA crop report. All three crops have seen their yield forecasts increase over the past month.

The latest forecast predicts a corn yield of 138 bushels per acre. That’s up 8 bushels since August, and it’s just 4 bushels less than the record set in 2013. Total corn production is forecast to be almost 130 million bushels, which is 57 percent more than last year’s total.

The cotton yield also is rising. The latest forecast calls for 960 pounds per acre, which is almost 250 pounds more than last year’s yield. Production is projected to total 550,000 bales, which is 4 percent above last year, even though farmers are harvesting fewer acres of cotton this year.

Peanuts are looking good, too. The yield forecast is 3,900 pounds per acre, and total production is projected to be 394 million pounds, 32 percent above last year.
Here are some other numbers from the report:

• Soybean yields are projected to be 35 bushels an acre, up 3 bushels from last year. But total production is projected to be 2 percent lower because the number of acres is lower this year.
Flue-cured tobacco yields are projected to be 2,200 pounds per acre, a drop of 200 pounds from last year. Total production is expected to be 363, million pounds, 4 percent lower than last year.