Production is on the rise in Pa. this year

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Based on conditions as of Oct. 1, Pennsylvania’s production of soybeans, all other dry hay, Maryland-type tobacco and grapes is expected to be above last year according to the Pennsylvania field office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Production of corn for grain, dry alfalfa hay, Pennsylvania seedleaf tobacco, Burley tobacco, and apples is expected to be below a year ago. Corn for grain production is forecast at 115.9 million bushels, 8 percent below last year’s crop.

Acreage for grain harvest is expected to total 950,000 with an average yield of 122 bushels per acre, compared with 980,000 acres and 122 bushels per acre last year.

Beans

Soybean production is expected to be 17.6 million bushels, up 1 percent from last year’s production of 17.4 million bushels. Harvested area is expected to be 450,000 acres and yield is estimated at 39 bushels per acre, unchanged from the September forecast, and down 2 bushels per acre from 2007.

Alfalfa dry hay production is forecast at 1.5 million tons, 16 percent below a year ago. Pennsylvania farmers expect to harvest 520,000 acres of alfalfa for dry hay, with an average yield of 2.9 tons per acre, down 0.1 ton per acre from the 2007 average yield. All other dry hay production is forecast at 2.7 million tons, 13 percent above a year ago.

Pennsylvania farmers expect to harvest 1.23 million acres, with an average yield of 2.2 tons per acre, compared to the 2007 average yield of 2.0 tons per acre.

Tobacco

Pennsylvania’s production of Maryland-type tobacco production is estimated at 3.78 million pounds, up 64 percent from last year. Acreage for harvest is set at 1,800 acres with an average yield of 2,100 pounds per acre.

Pennsylvania’s seedleaf-type tobacco production is estimated at 3.96 million pounds, 4 percent below 2007’s crop. Acreage for harvest is set at 1,800 acres with an average yield of 2,200 pounds per acre. Production of light air-cured burley tobacco is estimated at 9.89 million pounds, down 8 percent from last year’s production of 10.75 million pounds.

Acreage for harvest is set at 4,300 acres with an average yield of 2,300 pounds per acre.

Apple production is forecast at 440 million pounds, 6 percent below last year’s 470 million pounds.

Grape production is estimated to be 93,000 tons, 10.7 percent above last year’s production.