E-mail: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov (518) 457-5570 VEGETABLE REPORT September 2010 Seasonal No. 984-4-10 U.S. CONTRACTED PROCESSING PRODUCTION DOWN 9 PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR The 2010 contracted processing vegetable production for the four major processing crops (snap beans, sweet corn, green peas, and tomatoes) is forecast at 16.6 million tons, down 9 percent from last year. Production of processing tomatoes, at 12.8 million tons, is 7 percent below 2009. Snap bean production, at 736,680 tons, is down 6 percent from last year’s production. Sweet corn production, at 2.73 million tons, is down 16 percent from last year. Green pea production, at 351,480 tons, is 20 percent below 2009. Contracted area for harvest of the four major processing vegetable crops, at 988,150 acres, is 10 percent below 2009. Contracted tomato production is forecast at 12.8 million tons, down 7 percent from last year. A decline of 12 percent in contracted harvested area is accompanied by a yield increase of 2.20 tons per acre. In California, the season got off to a slow start due to cool temperatures and wet conditions. In Ohio, harvest was 7 percent complete by mid-August. In Michigan, the tomato crop looks good and is reported to be growing at a fast pace. However, by late July, reports of early blight slowed crop progress. Indiana’s processing tomatoes are reported to be in good condition despite heavy rainfall during the planting season. The end-of-season spring onion production estimate, at 7.66 million cwt, is down 11 percent from last year. Area harvested, at 25,900 acres, is down 5 percent from a year ago, and yield, at 296 cwt per acre, is down 19 cwt per acre from 2009. The value of the spring crop is estimated at 305 million dollars, 61 percent above last year. Sweet Corn: Contracted sweet corn production is forecast at 2.73 million tons, down 16 percent from last year. A decline of 10 percent in contracted harvested area is accompanied by a decline in yield of 0.49 ton per acre from 2009. Oregon’s sweet corn crop was delayed due to cool and wet spring conditions. In Wisconsin, harvest was delayed due to standing water in the fields. SWEET CORN FOR PROCESSING: Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State, and United States, 2008-2010 and Forecasted 2010 Area Harvested Yield per Acre Production State 2008 2009 2010 2008 2009 2010 2008 2009 2010 Total Total Contract1/ Contract1/ Total Total Contract1/ Total Total Contract 1/ Contract 1/ Acres Acres Acres Acres Tons Tons Tons Tons Tons Tons Tons MD 6,900 (D) (D) (D) 7.30 (D) (D) 50,370 (D) (D) (D) MN 123,900 122,400 122,400 119,500 7.08 8.00 7.30 876,980 979,250 979,250 872,350 OR 18.400 24,000 24,000 21,400 9.75 10.00 9.90 179,310 240,000 240,000 211,860 WA 66,300 81,700 81,700 65,900 9.78 10.37 9.90 648,490 847,010 847,010 652,410 WI 87,600 85,700 85,700 76,700 7.44 7.78 7.63 651,570 666,630 666,630 585,220 Other Sts2 57,500 65,700 65,606 56,500 7.40 7.63 7.25 425,770 501,190 500,740 409,640 US 360,600 379,500 379,406 340,000 7.85 8.52 8.03 2,832,490 3,234,080 3,233,630 2,731,480 (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 1 Includes acreage from major brokers. 2 For 2008, Other states include, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia. Beginning in 2009, Other states include Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Snap Beans: Contracted production of snap beans is forecast at 736,680 tons, down 6 percent from last year. Contracted harvested area is down 1 percent, but yield is down 0.19 tons per acre. In Michigan, insect and disease problems have been reported in some fields due to hot and humid weather. In Illinois, excessive rainfall across the state negatively impacted yields. In Indiana, heavy rainfall during the planting season delayed field preparation. In Minnesota, snap beans are reported to be in good condition due to warm temperatures and plenty of rainfall. Pennsylvania growers experienced very hot and dry weather during the growing season. In Wisconsin, snap beans are progressing at a slow pace due to heavy rainfall during June and July. SNAP BEANS FOR PROCESSING: Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State, and United States, 2008-2010 and Forecasted 2010 Area Harvested Yield per Acre Production State 2008 2009 2010 2008 2009 2010 2008 2009 2010 Total Total Contract1/ Contract1/ Total Total Contract1/ Total Total Contract 1/ Contract 1/ Acres Acres Acres Acres Tons Tons Tons Tons Tons Tons Tons IL 12,500 11,500 11,500 13,000 3.59 3.80 2.90 44,820 43,700 43,700 37,700 IN 4,500 4,400 4,400 5,000 3.11 3.56 2.67 13,980 15,650 15,650 13,350 MI 15,000 16,500 16,500 14,100 3.65 3.95 4.00 54,750 65,180 65,180 56,400 MN 4,700 7,600 7,600 7,400 3.17 2.66 3.30 14,890 20,190 20,190 24,420 NY 20,400 19,400 19,400 21,300 3.80 2.87 3.44 77,590 55,670 55,670 73,270 OR 18,600 18,950 18,950 17,400 6.03 5.94 6.20 112,140 112,600 112,600 107,880 PA 10,700 7,000 1,700 10,900 3.48 3.95 2.40 37,250 27,660 7,070 26,160 WI 80,500 81,700 81,200 77,100 4.06 4.32 4.24 326,870 353,290 351,190 326,900 Other Sts2 31,400 29,129 28,059 20,450 4.00 4.09 3.45 125,710 119,050 115,750 70,600 US 198,300 196,179 189,309 186,650 4.07 4.14 3.95 808,000 812,990 787,000 736,680 1 Includes acreage from major brokers. 2 Other states include California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.