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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:  Marisa Reuber
Thursday, August 11, 2011

www.nass.usda.gov/ny




	                           NEW YORK CROP PROSPECTS LOWER THAN 2010



     Crop production prospects in 2011 for New York are mostly lower compared with a year earlier, according to 
King Whetstone, Director of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York Field Office. Forecasts for 
corn, soybeans, oats, winter wheat, and dry beans 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 78.0 million bushels, down 12 percent from last year. Area for 
harvest is expected to total 600 thousand acres, 2 percent above a year ago. Yield is forecast at 130 bushels per 
acre, down 20 bushels from last year.  Growing degree days are ahead of normal, but much of New York is in need 
of rain.   Nationally, grain corn production is forecast at 12.9 billion bushels, up 4 percent from 2010.  If realized, this 
will be the third largest production total on record for the United States.  Based on conditions as of August 1, yields 
are expected to average 153.0 bushels per acre, up 0.2 bushel from 2010, and the fourth highest yield on record.  
     
     Soybean production in the Empire State is estimated at 11.8 million bushels, down 12 percent from last 
year’s 13.4 million bushels. Acreage for harvest increased 1 percent from 279 thousand a year earlier to a record 
high 282 thousand acres. Yields are expected to average 42 bushels per acre, down 6 bushels from last year.  U.S. 
soybean production is forecast at 3.06 billion bushels, down 8 percent from last year. Based on August 1 
conditions, yields are expected to average 41.4 bushels per acre, down 2.1 bushels from last year.
      
     New York production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures, at 900 thousand tons, is 2 percent above 2010. Other dry 
hay production is expected to total 1.62 million tons, up 5 percent from a year ago.   An increase in alfalfa and other 
hay acreages resulted in higher production.
     
     Dry bean production in New York is forecast at 184 thousand hundredweight (cwt), down 35 percent from the 
282 thousand cwt produced last year.  Harvested acreage is expected to total 11.5 thousand acres, down 3,400 
acres from 2010.  Yields are expected to average 1,600 pounds per acre, down 15 percent from last year’s 1,890 
pounds.  U.S. dry edible bean production is forecast at 20.5 million cwt for 2011, down 36 percent from last year.
      
     New York oat production, expected to total a record low 1.90 million bushels, is 51 percent below a year ago. 
Acreage for grain harvest is estimated at a record low 38 thousand acres, down 34 percent from last year. Yields 
are forecast at 50 bushels per acre, down 17 bushels from 2010.  U.S. production is forecast at 57.5 million bushels, 
2 percent above the July 1 forecast but down 29 percent from 2010. If realized, this will be the lowest production on 
record, surpassing the previous record low set last year.
     
     Winter wheat production for New York is estimated at 6.27 million bushels, down 6 percent from the 2010 
crop of 6.70 million bushels. Acreage for harvest is up 14 percent to 114 thousand acres. Yields are expected to 
average 55 bushels per acre, 12 bushels less than a year earlier. U.S. production is forecast at 1.50 billion bushels, 
up slightly from last month and up 1 percent from 2010.
     

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8-11-11