CROP PRODUCTION – OCTOBER 2017

 

COLORADO HIGHLIGHTS

Based on October 1 conditions, corn production in Colorado is forecast at 184.15 million bushels, up 15 percent from last year’s 160.29 million bushels, according to the October 1 Agricultural Yield Survey conducted by the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. The 1.27 million acres expected to be harvested for grain this year are up 50,000 acres from the September forecast and 100,000 acres above the 1.17 million acres harvested a year ago. Corn yield is estimated at 145.0 bushels per acre, unchanged from the September 1 forecast and 8.0 bushels above last year’s final yield. As of October 1, Colorado’s corn crop condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 17 percent excellent. Corn harvested for grain was 5 percent complete, compared with 8 percent last year and the 5-year average of 13 percent.

Sorghum production in 2017 is forecast at 20.63 million bushels, down less than 1 percent from the 20.75 million bushels harvested last year. Growers expect to harvest 375,000 acres this year, down 35,000 acres from the September forecast and down from the 415,000 acres harvested last year. Average yield is forecast at 55.0 bushels per acre, up 4.0 bushels from the September 1 forecast and up 5.0 bushels from last year. As of October 1, Colorado’s sorghum crop condition was rated 4 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 58 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Sorghum harvested for grain was estimated at 1 percent complete, compared with 5 percent last year and the 5-year average of 8 percent.

The initial forecast of all sunflower production is estimated at 114.0 million pounds, up 26 percent from the 2016 crop of 90.50 million pounds. All sunflower yield is expected to average 1,295 pounds per acre, up 2 pounds per acre from last year. Harvested area is estimated at 88,000 acres, up from the 70,000 acres harvested last year. As of October 1, Colorado’s sunflower crop condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 68 percent good, and 10 percent excellent.

Alfalfa hay production in Colorado is forecast at 2.73 million tons, up from the 2.38 million tons produced in 2016. Colorado farmers and ranchers expect to harvest 700,000 acres of alfalfa hay this year, up 20,000 acres from 2016. Alfalfa hay yield is expected to average 3.90 tons per acre, compared with last year’s yield of 3.50 tons per acre and the August 1 forecast of 3.90 tons per acre.

Producers expect to harvest 710,000 acres of other hay in 2017, up 10,000 acres from last year. Other hay production is estimated at 1.35 million tons, up 13 percent from the 1.19 million tons a year ago. Other hay yield is expected to average 1.90 tons per acre, compared with last year’s yield of 1.70 tons per acre and the August 1 forecast of 1.90 tons per acre.

Sugarbeet production in Colorado is forecast at 1.03 million tons, up 11 percent from the 927,000 tons produced in 2016. Growers expect to harvest 29,100 acres this year, compared with 27,600 a year ago. Yields are expected to average 35.4 tons per acre, down 0.3 ton per acre from the September 1 forecast but up from last year’s yield of 33.6 tons per acre. As of October 1, Colorado’s sugarbeet crop condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 22 percent excellent. Harvest of sugarbeets was estimated at 6 percent complete, compared with 7 percent last year and the 5-year average of 20 percent.

Dry bean production for 2017 is forecast at 1.12 million hundredweight, up 49 percent from the 751,000 hundredweight produced a year earlier. Yields are expected to average 2,000 pounds per acre, up 220 pounds per acre from the August 1 forecast and up from 1,750 pounds per acre last year. Growers expect to harvest 56,000 acres this year, up 13,000 acres from the 43,000 acres harvested last year. As of October 1, Colorado’s dry bean crop condition was rated 6 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 38 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. Dry bean harvest was estimated to be 55 percent complete, compared to 52 percent last year and the 5-year average of 51 percent.

UNITED STATES HIGHLIGHTS

Corn production is forecast at 14.3 billion bushels, down 6 percent from last year but up 1 percent from the September forecast. Based on conditions as of October 1, yields are expected to average 171.8 bushels per acre, up 1.9 bushels from the September forecast but down 2.8 bushels from 2016. If realized, this will be the second highest yield and production on record for the United States. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 83.1 million acres, down less than 1 percent from the previous estimate and down 4 percent from 2016.

Acreage updates were made in several States based on a thorough review of all available data.

Sorghum production is forecast at 364 million bushels, down 2 percent from the September forecast and down 24 percent from last year. Acreage updates were made in several States following a thorough review of all available data. Planted area, at 5.71 million acres, is down 5 percent from the previous estimate and down 15 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 5.05 million acres, down 5 percent from the previous forecast and down 18 percent from last year. Based on October 1 conditions, yield is forecast at 72.2 bushels per acre, 2.4 bushels higher than the September forecast but 5.7 bushels below the 2016 record high yield of 77.9 bushels per acre.

The first sunflower production forecast for 2017 is 1.81 billion pounds, down 32 percent from the revised 2016 production of 2.65 billion pounds. Area planted, at 1.40 million acres, is up 11 percent from the June estimate but down 12 percent from last year. Sunflower growers expect to harvest 1.35 million acres, up 11 percent from June but down 12 percent from the 2016 acreage. Planted area for the Nation is the second lowest on record since 1976, and harvested area will be the second lowest since 1976, if realized. The October yield forecast, at 1,339 pounds per acre, is 392 pounds lower than last year’s record high yield and will be the lowest since 2006, if realized.

Production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixture dry hay for 2017 is forecast at 56.0 million tons, down less than 1 percent from the August forecast and down 4 percent from 2016. Based on October 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 3.27 tons per acre, down 0.18 ton from last year. Harvested area is forecast at 17.1 million acres, unchanged from the August forecast but up 1 percent from 2016.

Production of other hay is forecast at 75.9 million tons, down 1 percent from 2016. Based on October 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 2.08 tons per acre, down 0.02 ton from the August forecast and down 0.01 ton from last year. Harvested area is forecast at 36.4 million acres, unchanged from the August forecast but down less than 1 percent from 2016.

Production of sugarbeets for the 2017 crop year is forecast at 35.7 million tons, down 3 percent from last year. Producers expect to harvest 1.11 million acres, down 1 percent from last year. Yield is forecast at 32.0 tons per acre, a decrease of 0.7 ton from last year.

United States dry edible bean production is forecast at 35.3 million cwt for 2017, up 23 percent from last year. Planted area is estimated at 2.11 million acres, up 27 percent from 2016. Harvested area is forecast at 2.03 million acres, 30 percent above the previous year. The average United States yield is forecast at 1,737 pounds per acre, a decrease of 105 pounds from 2016.

For a full copy of the Crop Production report please visit www.nass.usda.gov.

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