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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:  Greg Lemmons
Tuesday, January 12, 2010

www.nass.usda.gov/ny

                                        2009 NEW YORK FIELD CROP SUMMARY

       The 2009 crop year got off to a good start despite rainy weather conditions during the planting 
season.  Scattered showers continued throughout the summer, delaying maturity or preventing some late 
season crops from being planted. Rain throughout June, July, and August hindered dry hay harvest.  Cool, 
wet weather conditions during August and September delayed corn and soybean maturity and pushed 
harvest into November and December.

       New York grain corn production is estimated at 79.7 million bushels, down 13 percent from last 
year. Area for harvest totaled 595,000 acres, down 7 percent from a year ago. Yields averaged 134 bushels 
per acre, down 10 bushels from last year’s record high of 144 bushels per acre. 
        
       Corn cut for silage totaled 8.46 million tons, a decrease of 5 percent from last year. Area for 
harvest increased 6 percent to 470,000 acres. Yields are estimated at 18.0 tons per acre, down 2 tons per 
acre from last year’s record high.
        
       The 2009 soybean crop was estimated at 10.9 million bushels, 5 percent above last year's 
production. Area harvested, a record high at 254,000 acres, was up 12 percent from a year ago. Yields 
averaged 43 bushels per acre, down 3 bushels an acre from last year’s record high.  
       
       Wheat production totaled 6.83 million bushels, down 11 percent from the previous year. Harvested 
acreage, at 105,000 acres, was down 14 percent form 2008. Winter wheat yields averaged 65 bushels per 
acre, up 2 bushels from a year ago.
        
       Oat production, at 4.62 million bushels, was up 9 percent from the previous year. Area harvested, 
at 60,000 acres, was down 6 percent from last year. The average yield, at 77 bushels per acre, was up 11 
bushels from last year, and ties the record set in 1985.
        
       Production of barley in New York totaled 530,000 bushels, up 13 percent from a year earlier. 
Acreage harvested for grain totaled 10,000 acres, up 11 percent from 2008. The average yield per acre, at 53 
bushels, was up 1 bushel from last year.  
       
        All dry hay production was 2.47 million tons, down 8 percent from last year's 2.69 million tons. 
Acreage harvested for dry hay during 2009 increased 3 percent to 1.36 million acres. Yield, at 1.82 tons per 
acre, was 11 percent below a year ago.  
        
       New York production of alfalfa dry hay was estimated at 805 thousand tons, down 15 percent 
from last year's crop of 945,000 tons. Area harvested, at 350,000 acres, was the same as last year. Yields 
averaged 2.30 tons per acre, down 15 percent from last year.  
       
       Potato production totaled 4.95 million hundredweight (cwt.), down 13 percent from the 5.70 million 
cwt. produced in 2008. Harvested acreage totaled a record low 16,500 acres, down 1,300 acres from last 
year. Yields averaged 300 cwt. per acre, down 20 cwt. from the record high set a year ago.
        
       Dry Bean production totaled 193,000 cwt., down 40 percent from 2008. Acres harvested totaled a record
low 15,600 acres, down 1,200 acres from a year earlier. The average yield, at 1,240 pounds per acre, was down
690 cwt. from last year’s record high.
       
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1-12-10