Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”
The USDA’s latest crop report shows decreases in yields and production for several of North Carolina’s major crops.
Corn yields are forecast to average 115 bushels per acre this year. That’s 17 bushels per acre less than a year ago. Total corn production is forecast to be down 14 percent from last year.
Cotton set a record last year. Even though this year’s yield isn’t forecast to be as high, it’s still looking good at 1,012 pounds per acre. That’s well above the 10-year average. Cotton production is forecast at 780,000 bales, a 22 percent decrease from last year, which is due mainly to fewer planted acres.
Peanuts also had a record year in 2014, and the statewide average is predicted to come close this year. The yield is forecast to be 4,200 pounds per acre, down 100 pounds from a year ago. Total peanut production is projected to be 340 million pounds, 15 percent less than last year.
N.C. soybean yields were a record 40 bushels per acre last year, but this year the forecast is calling for 36. The drop in yield is just enough to offset the increased soybean acreage, so total production is projected to be down 5 percent to 65.9 million bushels.
Flue-cured tobacco is forecast at 2,150 pounds per acre, a drop of 150 pounds from last year. That lower yield, coupled with a significant drop in acreage this year, puts the production forecast at just under 366 million pounds.
Click on the audio player below to listen to Commissioner Troxler and Rhonda discuss the latest North Carolina crop report and weather’s impact on yield forecasts.
[Audio:/wp-content/uploads/Troxler_8-18-15.mp3|titles=Today’s Topic for Aug. 18]
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