Peanut Forecast Improves

WASHINGTON - Sep 11/15 - SNS -- Peanut output is forecast at 6.32 billion pounds, up 2% from August and up 21% from last year, according to the USDA's latest crop production update.

Based on administrative data, planted area is estimated at 1.62 million acres, up 1% from the June estimate and up 20% from the previous year. Area for harvest is expected to total 1.58 million acres, up 1% from the August estimate and up 19% from the previous year.

Based on conditions as of September 1, the average yield for the United States is forecast at 3,996 pounds per acre, up 46 pounds per acre from August and 64 pounds per acre above the 2014 average yield of 3,932 pounds per acre. Oklahoma continues to expect a record high yield due to sufficient rainfall in the peanut growing area.

Peanut Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and
United States: 2014 and Forecasted September 1, 2015
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                :         Area planted          :        Area harvested
      State     :---------------------------------------------------------------
                :    2014 1/    :     2015      :    2014 1/    :     2015
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                :                          1,000 acres
                :
Alabama ........:      175.0           200.0           173.0           197.0
Florida ........:      175.0           185.0           167.0           172.0
Georgia ........:      600.0           790.0           591.0           780.0
Mississippi ....:       32.0            43.0            31.0            42.0
New Mexico .....:        5.0             5.0             5.0             5.0
North Carolina .:       94.0            90.0            93.0            89.0
Oklahoma .......:       12.0            10.0            11.0             9.0
South Carolina .:      112.0           113.0           108.0           108.0
Texas ..........:      130.0           165.0           127.0           161.0
Virginia .......:       19.0            19.0            19.0            19.0
                :
United States ..:    1,354.0         1,620.0         1,325.0         1,582.0
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                :           Yield per acre            :       Production
      State     :---------------------------------------------------------------
                :           :          2015           :            :
                :  2014 1/  :-------------------------:  2014 1/   :    2015
                :           :  August 1  :September 1 :            :
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                :   ----------- pounds -----------      ---- 1,000 pounds ----
                :
Alabama ........:   3,200       3,500        3,600        553,600      709,200
Florida ........:   4,000       3,700        3,600        668,000      619,200
Georgia ........:   4,100       4,200        4,400      2,423,100    3,432,000
Mississippi ....:   4,000       4,000        4,000        124,000      168,000
New Mexico .....:   3,100       3,000        3,000         15,500       15,000
North Carolina .:   4,300       4,200        3,800        399,900      338,200
Oklahoma .......:   4,000       4,100        4,100         44,000       36,900
South Carolina .:   3,800       3,400        3,400        410,400      367,200
Texas ..........:   3,850       3,800        3,500        488,950      563,500
Virginia .......:   4,350       4,000        3,800         82,650       72,200
                :
United States ..:   3,932       3,950        3,996      5,210,100    6,321,400
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1/ Updated from previous estimate.