The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the Crop Production 2022 Summary today, showing a decline in corn and soybean production from 2021.
“Dry conditions characterized the 2022 growing season,” said David Knopf, director of the NASS Eastern Mountain Regional Office in Kentucky. “The most significant impact was in June and July when both higher than normal temperatures and lower than normal rainfall occurred during critical growing stages for crops. These conditions were especially harsh for corn yields, while not as severe for soybeans.”
Corn production in Kentucky is estimated at 211 million bushels, down 24% from the previous crop. Yield was estimated at 156 bushels per acre, down 36 bushels from the 2021 level. Acres for harvest as grain were estimated at 1.35 million acres, down 90,000 acres from 2021. The U.S. corn production is estimated at 13.7 billion bushels, down 9% from the 2021 estimate. The average yield in the United States is estimated at 173.3 bushels per acre. This is 3.4 bushels below the 2021 average yield. Area harvested for grain is estimated at 79.2 million acres, down 7% from the 2021 acreage.
Soybean production for Kentucky is estimated at 98.9 million bushels, down 4% from 2021. Yield was estimated at 51 bushels per acre, down 5 bushels from a year ago. Acreage for harvest as beans was estimated at 1.94 million acres, up 100,000 acres from the previous year. U.S. soybean production is forecast at 4.28 billion bushels, down 4% from last year. The average yield per acre is estimated at 49.5 bushels, down 2.2 bushels from last year. Area harvested is up slightly from 2021 at 86.3 million acres.
Kentucky burley tobacco production is estimated at 50.4 million pounds, down 24% from 2021. Yield was estimated at 1,800 pounds per acre, down 200 pounds from the 2021 crop. Harvested acreage was estimated at 28,000 acres, down 5,000 acres from last year's crop. For the burley producing states production is estimated at 58.6 million pounds, down 25% from last year. Burley growers harvested 32,410 acres, down 16% from 2021. Yields were estimated at 1,808 pounds per acre, down 210 pounds from last year.
Production of Kentucky dark fire-cured tobacco is estimated at 30.9 million pounds, up 6% from the previous year. Dark air-cured tobacco production is estimated at 15.4 million pounds, unchanged from last year.
Alfalfa hay production by Kentucky farmers is estimated at 396,000 tons, up 20% the 2021 level. Other hay production is estimated at 4.22 million tons, down 20% from last year.
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Corn, Soybeans