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Crop Production Mixed Bag
Published Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 04:52 AM
In the 2008 Crop Production Summary, released Monday by USDA, The National Agricultural Statistics Service reports that an economic downturn, floods in the Midwest, hurricanes in the South and drought-like conditions in various areas of the United States made 2008 one of the most volatile years in history for the agriculture industry. The agency points out that - in spite of all the challenges U.S. farmers produced an abundant corn and soybean crop.

The 2008 corn crop was the second largest in history, with production set at 12.1 billion bushels, down 7 percent from 2007. The 2008 soybean crop production was up 11 percent over the previous year. And U.S. peanut farmers set a new production record high in 2008 at 5.15 billion pounds.

But the cotton crop continues to be depressed. Total 2008 upland cotton crop production was at 12.6 million bales, down 31 percent over 2007 and was the lowest total production number since 1989.

NASS’ 2008 Winter Wheat Seedings report estimated the planted area for harvest in 2009 is 42.1 million acres, down 9 percent from 2008.

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