Much of state's crop production falls: A drought was the big factor. Corn, soybeans, cotton were all affected by dry weather.
RICHMOND, Jan 17, 2008 (Daily Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A drought caused Virginia's crops to suffer and reduced their production in 2007. That was the case for corn, soybeans and cotton -- some of the top crops grown locally, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. State corn-for-grain yields in 2007 averaged 85 bushels an acre, down 35 bushels from 2006, the statistics service reported. Virginia's corn-for-grain production was estimated at 34.4 million bushels, 17 percent below 2006, even though farmers planted more corn in 2007. In the state, 405,000 acres of corn were harvested for grain, which is 60,000 acres more than in 2006. Corn acreage nationally in 2007 was the highest since 1933, as speculation in ethanol as an alternative fuel made from corn drove up profits that farmers could make. Production was the highest ever, with farmers nationally producing 13.1 billion bushels of corn -- 24 percent more than they did in 2006. The state's soybean yield averaged 27 bushels an acre, four bushels below 2006. About 480,000 acres were harvested for beans, down 30,000 acres from the previous year. Soybean production was estimated at 13 million bushels, 18 percent less than 2006 production, the statistics service reported. Nationally, soybean production was down 19 percent from 2006's record of nearly 3.2 billion bushels. Virginia's cotton production was estimated at 105,000 bales, down 32 percent from 2006. The cotton yield forecast is 854 pounds an acre, up 140 pounds from 2006's yield. Farmers harvested 59,000 acres in 2007, down from the 104,000 acres harvested in 2006. Farmers across the nation grew 19 million bales of cotton, down about 14 percent from 2006. Harvested acres of cotton were down 18 percent from 2006. But farmers achieved a record per-acre yield of 871 pounds an acre, the statistics service said. Virginia's peanut producers harvested an average of 2,700 pounds an acre this season, down 500 pounds an acre from 2006. Peanut production is estimated at 56.7 million pounds, up 4 percent from 2006. As farmers approach the 2008 planting season, winter wheat seedings are up 50,000 acres from 2007. The 280,000 acres planted is the highest amount since 1999, the statistics service said
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