E-mail: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov
(518) 457-5570

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:  Greg Lemmons
Wednesday, August 12, 2009

www.nass.usda.gov/ny

                   NEW YORK CROP PROSPECTS LOWER THAN 2008

Crop production prospects in 2009 for New York are mostly lower compared
with a year earlier, according to Stephen Ropel, Director of USDA’s
National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York Field Office. Forecasts
for soybeans, oats, dry beans, wheat, and corn are expected to be lower.
All forecasts in this release are based on conditions as of August 1 and
assume normal growing conditions throughout the remainder of the season.

New York grain corn production is forecast at 82.5 million bushels, down 10
percent from last year. Area for harvest is expected to total 630 thousand
acres, 2 percent below a year ago. Yield is forecast at 131 bushels per
acre, down 13 bushels from last year’s record high. The crop was developing
slowly due to cool temperatures and lack of sunshine. Nationally, grain
corn production is forecast at 12.8 billion bushels, up 5 percent from last
year, but 2 percent below 2007.  Based on conditions as of August 1, yields
are expected to average 159.5 bushels per acre, up 5.6 bushels from last
year.  If realized, this will be the second highest yield on record, behind
the 160.4 bushel yield in 2004.  Production will be the second highest on
record, behind 2007.

New York production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures, at 1.01 million tons,
is 7 percent above 2008. Other dry hay production is expected to total 1.91
million tons, up 9 percent from a year ago. Due to the wet summer, yields
were lower than expected.   An increase in harvested acreage resulted in
higher production.

Dry bean production in New York is forecast at 205 thousand hundredweight
(cwt.), down 37 percent from the 324 thousand cwt. produced last year.
Harvested acreage is expected to total 16.4 thousand acres, down 400 acres
from 2008. Yields are expected to average 1,250 pounds per acre compared
with the record high 1,930 pounds in 2008. U.S. dry edible bean production
is forecast at 24.4 million cwt., down 5 percent from last year and 2007.

New York oat production, expected to total 4.03 million bushels, is 5
percent below a year ago. Acreage for grain harvest is estimated at 64
thousand acres, the same as last year. Yields are forecast at 63 bushels
per acre, down 3 bushels from 2008.  U.S. production is forecast at 92.0
million bushels, slightly above the July 1 forecast and 4 percent above
last year's record low 88.6 million bushels.

Winter wheat production for New York is estimated at 6.82 million bushels,
down 11 percent from the 2008 crop of 7.69 million bushels. Acreage for
harvest is down 10 percent at 110 thousand acres. Yields are expected to
average 62 bushels per acre, 1 bushel less than a year earlier. U.S.
production is forecast at 1.54 billion bushels, down 18 percent from 2008.

Soybean production in the Empire State is estimated at 10.3 million
bushels, down slightly from last year’s 10.4 million bushels. Acreage for
harvest increased 12 percent from 226 thousand a year earlier to 252
thousand acres. Yields are expected to average 41 bushels per acre, down 5
bushels from last year’s record high.  U.S. soybean production is forecast
at 3.20 billion bushels, up 8 percent from last year.  Yields are expected
to average 41.7 bushels per acre, up 2.1 bushel from 2008.

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8-12-09