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NEW YORK CROP
AND LIVESTOCK REPORT

 

Released:  December 2006
Monthly 
No. 973-12-06

NEW YORK AND U.S. FALL POTATO PRODUCTION UP

New  York  production  of  fall  potatoes for  2006  is  estimated  at 5.70  million  hundredweight  (cwt.) , up 9 percent  from  a  year  ago.

U.S. production of fall potatoes for 2006 is forecast at 391 million cwt, up 2 percent from last year.  Area harvested, at 976,900 acres, is virtually unchanged from the July estimate but 3 percent above last year.  The average yield is forecast at 400 cwt per acre, 3 cwt below last year's record high.

Western States production is forecast at 265 million cwt, down 2 percent from last year.  Area harvested, at 608,000 acres, increased 1 percent from last year but the average yield of 436 cwt per acre is down 13 cwt from 2005.  Central States production is forecast at 98.5 million cwt, up 11 percent from last year.  Harvested area, at 277,400 acres, is up 7 percent, while average yields, at 355 cwt per acre, are up 11 cwt from a year ago. 

Eastern States production is forecast at 27.4 million cwt, up 13 percent from last year.  Area for harvest totaled 91,500 acres, 1 percent above last year, while the average yield, at 299 cwt per acre, is up 31 cwt from last season.  Maine production is forecast at 18.0 million cwt, 16 percent above 2005.  Excellent growing and harvesting conditions resulted in a high yielding, high quality crop.  Yield is expected to be 310 cwt per acre.  If realized, this will match the record high yield set in 2004. 

Fall Potato Acreage, Yield and Production,
New York and United States, 2004-2006

NEW YORK DRY BEAN PRODUCTION DOWN

Dry bean production in New York for the 2006 crop totaled 239,000 hundredweight (cwt), down 15 percent from last year’s production.  Harvested acreage, at 18,000 acres was down 12 percent from last year. Yields averaged 1,330 pounds per acre compared with 1,230 pounds per acre in 2005.

Light red kidney bean production in the state is estimated at 88,000 cwt. compared with 134,000 cwt. in 2005.  Production came from 6,600 acres harvested.  Light red kidney beans accounted for 37 percent of the total dry bean production in New York.  Dark red kidney bean production in estimated at 15,000 cwt. compared with 10,000 cwt. in 2005.  Black turtle bean production is set at 126,000 cwt., down 2 percent from the 128,000 cwt. produced a year earlier.  Production of all other varieties totaled 10,000 cwt. the same as a year ago.  U.S. dry edible bean production is forecast at 23.8 million cwt for 2006, virtually unchanged from the October forecast but 11 percent below the revised 2005 production.  Harvested acreage is forecast at 1.53 million acres, 2 percent below the last forecast but virtually unchanged from the previous year's revised acreage.  The average U.S. yield is forecast at 1,558 pounds per acre, an increase of 35 pounds from the October forecast but 188 pounds below the revised 2005 yield.  Production is below a year ago in 13 of the 18 producing States.  Production in North Dakota is forecast at 7.62 million cwt, 11 percent below 2005.  In Michigan, production is forecast at 3.87 million cwt, 1 percent below last year.  Nebraska growers produced 2.64 million cwt of dry beans, 32 percent less than last year.

Dry Bean Production by Class, New York and United States, 2004-2006

U.S. HIRED WORKERS DOWN 5 PERCENTWAGE RATES UP 3 PERCENT FROM A YEAR AGO

There were 1,077,000 hired workers on the Nation’s farms and ranches during the week of October 8-14, 2006, down 5 percent from a year ago.  Of these hired workers, 797,000 workers were hired directly by farm operators.  Agricultural service employees on farms and ranches made up the remaining 280,000 workers.

Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $9.95 per hour during the October 2006 reference week, up 34 cents from a year earlier.  Field workers received an average of $9.25 per hour, up 35 cents from last October, while livestock workers earned $9.41 per hour compared with $9.15 a year earlier.  The field and livestock worker combined wage rate, at $9.29 per hour, was up 33 cents from last year.     

Hired Workers on Farms and Wage Rates

NOVEMBER MILK PRICES INCREASED FROM OCTOBER

Prices received by New York producers for milk sold during November increased from a month earlier. The price of corn, wheat, hay and eggs also increased.  The price of potatoes and apples decreased.  Many previous month prices were revised due to more complete sales information.

Grain corn, at $2.78 per bushel, increased 19 cents from October and 73 cents from last year.  Wheat price was $4.15, 55 cents above last month and $1.78 above last year. Hay averaged $131.00 per ton, $13.00 more than October and $22.00 more than November 2005.  Potatoes, at $12.50 per hundredweight, decreased $1.80 from October and 20 cents from November last year.  Fresh market apple prices at the packinghouse door averaged 33.20 cents per pound this month, 1.90 cents more than last month and 6.40 more than last year.   Dairy farmers in the Empire State received an average of $14.20 per hundredweight of milk sold during November, 10 cents more than October but $1.90 less than November a year ago.  Poultry producers received an average of 69 cents per dozen eggs sold, up 32 cents from October and 18 cents more than last year.

The preliminary All Farm Products Index of Prices Received by Farmers in November, at 121 percent, based on 1990-92=100, increased 5 points (4.3 percent) from October. The Crop Index is up 10 points (8.7 percent) but the Livestock Index decreased 1 point (0.9 percent). Producers received higher commodity prices for corn, soybeans, eggs, and milk. Lower prices were received for cattle, tomatoes, oranges, and hogs. The overall index is also affected by the seasonal change based on a 3-year average mix of commodities producers sell.  Increased average marketings of milk, cattle, cotton, and oranges offset decreased marketings of soybeans, potatoes, peanuts, and lettuce.

Prices Received by Farmers 1/

Commercial Livestock Slaughter, October 1/

3

NOVEMBER MILK PRODUCTION INCREASES