USDA’s Ag Statistics Service has issued their first estimating of plantings for this year.
On peanuts, it’s estimated at 1.53 million acres for this year. That’s down 22 percent from last year. The area to be harvested will be 1.48 million acres this year.
That’s down 23 percent on the harvested area. In Georgia, they said the largest peanut producing state planted area is down 22 percent from last year. And as of June 22nd, 63 percent of the acreage was rated in good to excellent condition.
Checking on Alabama, Alabama would drop from 100, would have 165,000 acres planted and they’re estimated 163,000 acres would be harvested. That’s down from the 192 of last year. In Florida, Florida planted 175,000 acres last year.
They’re estimated at 155 this year and harvested at 147. But overall, for other commodities, corn planted down three percent, soybeans up five percent, wheat down six percent, and cotton up six percent from last year. Overall, they’re saying peanuts were down 21.6 percent or about 22 percent for this coming year.
Audio Reporting by Tyron Spearman for Southeast AgNet.