Peanut Crop Slips 2%

WASHINGTON - Aug 12/16 - SNS -- U.S. peanut production is forecast at 6.11 billion pounds, down 2% from last year, according to the USDA's latest estimate for the crop.

Area for harvest is expected to total 1.53 million acres, unchanged from the June forecast but 2% lower than 2015. Based on conditions as of August 1, the average yield for the United States is forecast at 3,990 pounds per acre, up 27 pounds from last year. The largest yield increases from last year are expected in South Carolina and North Carolina, where heavy rain and flooding significantly reduced the crop potential last year. If realized, production in Georgia, the largest peanut- producing State, will be the second highest on record.

Peanut Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2015 and Forecasted
August 1, 2016
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                 :     Area harvested      :     Yield per acre      :       Production
      State      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :    2015    :    2016    :    2015    :    2016    :    2015    :    2016
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                 :  ---- 1,000 acres ---       ----- pounds -----      ---- 1,000 pounds ----
                 :
Alabama .........:    197.0        173.0       3,350        3,600        659,950      622,800
Florida .........:    180.0        136.0       3,650        3,600        657,000      489,600
Georgia .........:    777.0        750.0       4,470        4,500      3,473,190    3,375,000
Mississippi .....:     42.0         39.0       3,600        3,900        151,200      152,100
North Carolina ..:     88.0         79.0       3,400        3,800        299,200      300,200
Oklahoma ........:      9.0         12.0       3,500        3,500         31,500       42,000
South Carolina ..:     82.0        111.0       3,200        3,600        262,400      399,600
Texas ...........:    168.0        187.0       3,500        3,000        588,000      561,000
Virginia ........:     19.0         20.0       3,850        3,900         73,150       78,000
                 :
Other States 1/ .:      5.0         24.0       3,000        3,713         15,000       89,100
                 :
United States ...:  1,567.0      1,531.0       3,963        3,990      6,210,590    6,109,400
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1/ For 2015, Other States include New Mexico. For 2016, Other States include Arkansas and New
   Mexico.