Tyron Spearman takes time today to look back at some of the numbers from the recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) crop estimates for this year’s crops.
According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, here are some of the key findings from the October Crop Production report for the Southeast:
Alabama: Corn for grain production is forecast at 27.0 million bushels for 2024, down 7 percent from the previous forecast and down 49 percent from 2023. Based on conditions as of October 1, yields are expected to average 100 bushels per acre. Cotton production is forecast at 700,000 bales, down 2 percent from the previous forecast and down 4 percent from last year. Peanut production is forecast at 614 million pounds, up 6 percent from the previous forecast and up 30 percent from 2023. Soybean production is forecast at 11.0 million bushels for 2024, down 6 percent from the previous forecast and down 25 percent from 2023.
Florida: With yield forecast at 629 pounds per acre, cotton production is forecast at 110,000 bales for 2024, down 4 percent from the previous forecast and down 1 percent from last year. Peanut production is forecast at 596 million pounds for 2024, down 5 percent from the previous forecast but up 14 percent from 2023. Sugarcane for sugar and seed production is forecast at 18.6 million tons for 2024, up 2 percent from 2023.
Georgia: Corn for grain production is forecast at 50.7 million bushels for 2024, up 2 percent from the previous forecast but down 34 percent from 2023. Cotton production for 2024 is forecast at 1.65 million bales, down 20 percent from the previous forecast and down 24 percent from last year. Based on conditions as of October 1, yields are expected to average 727 pounds per acre. Peanut production is forecast at 3.21 billion pounds, down 7 percent from the previous forecast but up 2 percent from 2023. Soybean production is forecast at 6.44 million bushels, down 11 percent from the previous forecast and down 3 percent from 2023. Pecan production is forecast at 99.0 million pounds, down 8 percent from last year.