U.S. Expects 10% More Peanuts

WASHINGTON - Aug 12/10 - SNS -- Peanut production is forecast at 4.04 billion pounds, up 10% from last year, according to the latest crop production estimate from the USDA.

Area for harvest is expected to total 1.26 million acres, unchanged from June but up 17% from 2009. Yields are expected to average 3,204 pounds per acre, down 208 pounds from last year. Planted area, at 1.29 million acres, is unchanged from the June estimate.

Production in the Southeast States (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina) is expected to total 3.02 billion pounds, up 8% from last year's production. Yields in the region are expected to average 3,182 pounds per acre, 191 pounds below last year's average yield. All States in the region are expecting an increase in production from last year. Yields, on the other hand, are expected to decrease in all States except Mississippi and South Carolina due to above normal temperatures and lack of rainfall. By August 1, peanuts pegging was ahead of the 5-year average in all States in the region except Florida, where pegging, at 80%, was 10 percentage points behind the 5-year average.

Virginia-North Carolina production is forecast at 319 million pounds, up 11% from 2009. The average yield is forecast at 2,877 pounds per acre, down 823 pounds from the previous year. North Carolina's forecasted yield of 3,000 pounds per acre is down 700 pounds from 2009 and the Virginia forecast of 2,200 pounds per acre is down 1,500 pounds from last year. Hot, dry weather conditions this summer have resulted in lower yields in the region. As of August 1, thirty-two% of the crop in North Carolina and Virginia was rated in good to excellent condition, compared with 70 and 89%, respectively, at the same time last year.

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here