08-10-12 *USDA/NASS SPECIAL RELEASE* The latest Colorado & US Crop Production Report...

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CROP PRODUCTION – AUGUST 2012

COLORADO HIGHLIGHTS

Winter wheat production is forecast at 83.3 million bushels, unchanged from the July 1 forecast but up 7 percent from the 78.0 million bushels produced last year. Growers harvested an estimated 2.3 million acres this year with an average yield of 37.0 bushels per acre, 2.0 bushels below the 39.0 bushels per acre attained last year. Seeding conditions last fall were good with adequate moisture that promoted germination and a good stand. Above normal temperatures in May and June accelerated crop development bringing the harvest 10-14 days ahead of normal. Harvest commenced two weeks early and was basically complete by the first week of July, a record early harvest. Barley production is forecast at 6.9 million bushels, down 13 percent from last year’s crop. The area for harvest in 2012, at 55,000 acres, is also down from last year by 8,000 acres. Barley yield is estimated at 125.0 bushels per acre, 1.0 bushel below last year, but unchanged from the July 1 forecast.

Corn production is forecast at 131.0 million bushels, down 24 percent from last year’s 172.9 million bushels. The 970,000 acres expected to be harvested for grain this year is 25 percent below a year ago and also down 20 percent from the June forecast. The widespread hot and dry conditions this year had an adverse affect on the crop, particularly on dryland plantings forcing farmers to consider grazing, abandonment or harvest for forage instead of grain. Average yield is expected to increase 2.0 bushels per acre from last year to 135.0, due to a greater proportion of irrigated acreage expected for grain. If realized, this would be the lowest corn production since 2003 when Colorado produced 120.2 million bushels. Sorghum production in 2012 is forecast at 4.3 million bushels, down 12 percent from the 4.9 million bushel crop harvested a year earlier. Growers expect to harvest 160,000 acres this year, up from 140,000 acres harvested last year, but down 10,000 acres from the June forecast. The dry conditions have lowered yield prospects 8.0 bushels below a year ago as producers expect to average 27.0 bushels per acre this year.

Dry bean production for 2012 is forecast at 729,000 hundredweight, up 25 percent from the 585,000 hundredweight produced a year earlier. Yields are expected to average 1,620 pounds per acre up from 1,580 pounds per acres attained last year. Growers expect to harvest 45,000 acres this year, up 8,000 acres from 37,000 acres last year but down 2.000 acres from the June forecast. Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.0 million tons, up 21 percent from 829,000 tons produced in 2011. Growers expect to harvest 29,700 acres this year compared with 28,700 a year ago. Yields are expected to average a record high of 33.9 tons per acre, up from 28.9 tons per acre a year ago. If realized, this would be the largest sugarbeet crop since 2,000 in Colorado.

Colorado farmers and ranchers expect to harvest 790,000 acres of alfalfa hay this year down 10,000 acres from 2011. They also expect to harvest 710,000 acres of other hay in 2012, down 110,000 acres from last year. Alfalfa production is forecast at 2.53 million tons compared with 2.88 million tons produced in 2011 and other hay is estimated at 994,000 tons, down 19 percent from 1.23 million tons a year ago. Yields are expected to average 3.2 tons per acre for alfalfa and 1.4 tons per acre for other hay, both down from 3.6 tons per acre and 1.5 tons per acre last year, respectively.
Colorado’s apple production for this year is forecast at 17.0 million pounds up from a frost reduced 9.0 million pound crop last year. Peach production is expected to bring 15,000 tons in Colorado this year compared with 12,000 tons produced in 2011.

UNITED STATES HIGHLIGHTS

All wheat production, at 2.27 billion bushels, is up 2 percent from the July forecast and up 13 percent from 2011. Based on August 1 conditions, the United States yield is forecast at 46.5 bushels per acre, up 0.9 bushel from last month and up 2.8 bushels from last year.Production of winter wheat is forecast at 1.68 billion bushels, up 1 percent from July and up 13 percent from 2011. Based on August 1 conditions, the United States yield is forecast at a record high 48.0 bushels per acre, up 0.3 bushel from last month and 1.8 bushels higher than last year. The area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 35.0 million acres, unchanged from last month but up 8 percent from last year. Hard Red Winter, at 1.01 billion bushels, is up slightly from a month ago. Soft Red Winter production is up 1 percent from the previous forecast and now totals 435 million bushels. White Winter production totals 236 million bushels, up 2 percent from last month. Of this total, 13.9 million bushels are Hard White and 222 million bushels are Soft White. Production of other spring wheat is forecast at 500 million bushels, up 6 percent from the July forecast and up 10 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain is expected to total 11.7 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 3 percent from last year. The United States yield is forecast at 42.8 bushels per acre, up 2.4 bushels from last month and 5.1 bushels above 2011. Of the total production, 463 million bushels are Hard Red Spring Wheat, up 6 percent from last month and up 16 percent from last year.

Production of barley for 2012 barley crop is forecast at 221 million bushels, up 2 percent from the July forecast and 42 percent from 2011. Based on conditions as of August 1, the average yield for the United States is forecast at 67.6 bushels per acre, up 1.3 bushels from July but down 2.0 bushels from last year. Area harvested for grain or seed, at 3.27 million acres, is unchanged from the previous forecast but up 46 percent from 2011.
Corn production is forecast at 10.8 billion bushels, down 13 percent from 2011 and the lowest production since 2006. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 123.4 bushels per acre, down 23.8 bushels from 2011. If realized, this will be the lowest average yield since 1995. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 87.4 million acres, down 2 percent from the June forecast but up 4 percent from 2011. Production of sorghum is forecast at 248 million bushels, up 15 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 5.10 million acres, down 3 percent from June but up 30 percent from 2011. Based on August 1 conditions, yield is forecast at 48.6 bushels per acre, down 6 bushels from last year. A record high yield is forecast in Louisiana, where farmers reported mostly favorable growing conditions.
United States dry edible bean production is forecast at 27.0 million cwt for 2012, up 36 percent from last year. Planted area is forecast at 1.71 million acres, up 42 percent from 2011. Harvested area is forecast at 1.67 million acres, 45 percent above the previous year. The average United States yield is forecast at 1,614 pounds per acre, a decrease of 102 pounds from 2011. Soybean production is forecast at 2.69 billion bushels, down 12 percent from last year. Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 36.1 bushels per acre, down 5.4 bushels from last year. If realized, the average yield will be the lowest since 2003. Area for harvest is forecast at 74.6 million acres, down 1 percent from June but up 1 percent from 2011.

Production of sugarbeets for the 2012 crop year is forecast at 35.3 million tons, up 23 percent from last year. Planted area is forecast at 1.24 million acres, down slightly from the June Acreage report but up 1 percent from last year. Producers expect to harvest 1.22 million acres, down slightly from the previous forecast but up slightly from 2011. Expected yield is forecast at 29.1 tons per acre, an increase of 5.3 tons from last year. If realized, this will be a record yield for the United States.

Production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures is forecast at 54.9 million tons, down 16 percent from last year. If realized, this will be the lowest production level since 1953. Based on August 1 conditions, yield is expected to average 2.92 tons per acre, down 0.48 ton from last year. If realized, this will be the lowest United States yield since 1988. Harvested area is forecast at 18.8 million acres, unchanged from June but down 2 percent from 2011. Other hay production is forecast at 65.4 million tons, down less than 1 percent from last year. If realized, this will be the lowest production level since 1990. Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 1.69 tons per acre, down 0.12 ton from last year. If realized, this will be the lowest United States yield since 1988. Harvested area is forecast at 38.8 million acres, unchanged from June but up 6 percent from last year.
The United States apple production for the 2012 crop year is forecast at 8.06 billion pounds, down 14 percent from 2011.

Production in the Western States (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington) is forecast at 6.21 billion pounds, up 6 percent from last year. Washington growers experienced a relatively normal growing season, without losses from freezes or frost, and with good pollination weather. Production in Oregon is up from last year, contrary to the typical alternate bearing pattern. United States peach production is forecast at 1.02 million tons, down 5 percent from 2011. California experienced an adequate number of chilling hours, thus benefiting the Freestone crop. Cool weather and rain during the spring also aided the crop. Higher labor costs and a lack of workers to thin the Clingstone crop were a concern for growers as the good crop set required a great deal of thinning. Harvest is well underway. Sizes are reported to be small, resulting in slightly lower production from a year ago. In South Carolina, ninety-one percent of the crop had been harvested as of July 29, well ahead of the 5-year average of 70 percent. Scattered hail storms were reported during the season causing some damage, especially for upstate producers.