State crop production increases
HARRISBURG — Based on year end acreage and yield data, production of most major field crops showed an increase from last year with the exception of winter wheat. Corn for grain and silage, soybeans, barley, oats, tobacco, hay and fall potatoes had higher production in 2012 than in 2011, according to the Pennsylvania office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Production of dry hay in Pennsylvania was below last year’s production. Winter wheat production was up despite having the decrease in acreage.
Corn for grain production totaled 132 million bushels, up 24 percent from last year. Corn acres harvested for grain were estimated at 1,000,000 and the average yield was 132 bushels per acre, up 21 bushels from 2011.
Corn for silage production at 7.9 million tons, was up 22 percent from production in 2011. Acres harvested for silage totaled 440,000, up 20,000 from 2011. Silage yield was 18.0 tons per acre, up 2.5 tons per acre from the 2011 yield.
Alfalfa dry hay production was 1.04 million tons, 6 percent below last year’s production. Acres harvested were 400,000, down 10,000 acres from last year, with an average yield of 2.6 tons per acre. Alfalfa haylage and greenchop production was 1.6 million tons (green weight), 8 percent above last year’s production. Acres harvested were 270,000, with an average yield of 5.8 tons per acre. All alfalfa forage production was 1.81 million tons (dry weight equivalent), 1 percent below last year’s production. Alfalfa acres newly seeded in 2012 for crop production in 2013 totaled 90,000 acres, up 20,000 acres from a year ago. All other dry hay acres harvested totaled 1,020,000 acres, a decrease of 20,000 acres from last year, with a yield of 1.90 tons per acre for a total production of 1.94 million tons, down 19 percent from last year. Total forage production on a dry equivalent basis was 4.09 million tons, 9 percent below last year’s production. Forage was harvested from 1.69 million acres, about the same as last year. Average forage yield per acre in 2012 was 2.42 dry tons, compared to 2.65 dry tons a year ago.
Oat production was 3.97 million bushels, 44 percent above last year’s production.
Harvested acres totaled 65,000, up 5,000 acres from last year. The average yield was 61 bushels per acre, 15 bushels above last year. Production of winter wheat was 9.4 million bushels, 9 percent above the 2011 production. Harvested acres totaled 145,000, which was 25,000 acres less than 2011.
Average yield was 65 bushels per acre, 14 bushels per acre more than last year. Barley production was 3.60 million bushels, 1 percent above 2011. Acreage harvested was 2,000 less than a year ago at 53,000, with an average yield per acre of 68 bushels, which was 3 bushels above a year ago.
Soybean production, at 25 million bushels, was 16 percent above last year’s production. Acreage harvested was 520,000, a 30,000 acre increase from 2011. The 2012 yield was 48.0bushels per acre, 4 bushels per acre more than a year ago.
Fall potato production, at 2.24 million hundredweight (cwt.), was up 10 percent from last year’s production. Acres harvested, at 8,600, were 800 more than last year. The average yield of 260 cwt. per acre was about the same as last year’s yield.
Pennsylvania burley tobacco production totaled 11.5 million pounds, up 5 percent from a year ago. Acreage for harvest was 4,700, compared to 5,000 a year ago. Average yield per acre was 2,450 pounds, up 250 pounds from last year. Southern Maryland type tobacco production totaled 6.7 million pounds, 11 percent more than last year. Harvested acreage was 2,900, down 100 acres from 2011. Pennsylvania seedleaf-type tobacco production totaled 4.8 million pounds, 31 percent more than last year. Harvested acreage was 2,000, 300 acres more than last year. The average yield of 2,400 pounds per acre was 12 percent above 2011.
At the United States level corn for grain production is estimated at 10.8 billion bushels, up 1 percent from the November 1 forecast but 13 percent below 2011. The average yield in the United States is estimated at 123.4 bushels per acre. This is up 1.1 bushels from the November forecast but 23.8 bushels below the 2011 average yield of 147.2. Area harvested for grain is estimated at 87.4 million acres, down slightly from the November forecast but up 4 percent from 2011.
Soybean production in 2012 totaled 3.01 billion bushels, up 1 percent from the November 1 forecast but down 3 percent from 2011. United States production is the seventh largest on record. The average yield per acre is estimated at 39.6 bushels, 0.3 bushel above the November 1 forecast but 2.3 bushels below last year’s yield. Harvested area is up 3 percent from 2011 to 76.1 million acres and is the third highest on record.
Production of other major crops and changes from the previous year as follows: corn for silage, 113 million tons, up 4 percent; dry alfalfa hay, 52 million tons, down 20 percent; other dry hay 67.8 million tons, up 3 percent from 2011; oats, 64 million bushels, up 19 percent; winter wheat, 1.65 billion bushels, up 10 percent; barley 220 million bushels, up 41 percent; all potatoes, 467 million cwt., up 9 percent; all tobacco, 762 million pounds, up 27 percent; and maple syrup 1.91 million gallons, down 32 percent.