By Blake Jackson
Kentucky farmers have reason to celebrate this year, as key crops like corn and burley tobacco saw significant increases in both yield and production compared to 2022. Here's a quick breakdown.
Corn:
- Production: Up 35% to 281 million bushels, exceeding the November forecast by 2%.
- Yield: Up 31 bushels per acre to 187, surpassing the November estimate by 4 bushels.
- Acres harvested: Up 170,000 acres to 1.50 million.
Soybeans:
- Production: Up 1% to 100 million bushels, remaining steady with the November forecast.
- Yield: Up 4.0 bushels per acre to 55, holding steady from last month.
- Acres harvested: Down 120,000 acres to 1.82 million.
Burley Tobacco:
- Production: Up 13% to 56.7 million pounds, exceeding the October forecast by 2%.
- Yield: Up 300 pounds per acre to 2,100, surpassing the October estimate by 50 pounds.
- Harvested acreage: Down 1,000 acres to 27,000.
Hay Production:
- Alfalfa hay production saw a dip of 32% compared to 2022 at 270,000 tons.
- Other hay production increased 5% from last year to 4.16 million tons.
Overall, Kentucky's 2023 crop season is shaping up to be a positive one, with strong performance from corn, burley tobacco, and other hay varieties. While soybean production remained stable, the significant yield increase signifies potential for future growth. This bodes well for Kentucky farmers and the state's agricultural sector.
Photo Credit: vecteezy-bergamont
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Corn, Soybeans, Tobacco, Alfalfa