Ag Statistics Service of USDA has released the estimated planted acres this year for all the major crops.
They always announce it on March 31st to give us an indication of what’s going to happen on the farm this year. Checking on peanuts. Growers intend to plant 1.67 million acres of peanuts this year.
That is down 14 percent across the country compared with last year. Acreage decreases are expected in 10 out of 11 estimating states. That includes planted 20,000 acres or more.
It’s going to be cut in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas. In Georgia, the largest peanut producing state, planted acres is expected to be down 15 percent from last year to 780,000 acres. Checking the rest of the tri-state area.
Alabama, up three percent to 200,000 acres. Florida is down 11 percent to 155,000 acres. Also in the area of Georgia, they said would be down 15 percent overall.
And then other states, South Carolina would be down 12 percent. But overall nationwide, 86 percent. They decrease of 14 percent and most of the area in the southeast will be down about 15 percent.
Audio Reporting by Tyron Spearman for Southeast AgNet.