Recently the USDA Agricultural Statistic Service released some data on the 2015 grain crop. In spite of what seemed like an excellent growing season most yields in 2015 were down from the 2014 numbers.
In Pennsylvania, corn for grain production is estimated at 138.2 million bushels, down almost 13 percent from the 2014 estimate. The average yield in Pennsylvania is estimated at 147.0 bushels per acre, 7.0 bushels below the 2014 average yield of 154.0 bushels per acre. Area harvested for grain is estimated at 940 thousand acres, down almost 9 percent from last year.
Silage production is estimated at 7.80 million tons, down 5 percent from 2014. Silage yield is estimated at 20.0 tons per acre, the same as in 2014. Area harvested for silage is estimated at 390 thousand acres, down 5 percent from a year ago.
Soybean production in Pennsylvania is estimated at 25.3 million bushels, down 9 percent from 2014. Yield is estimated at 44.0 bushels per acre, down 10 percent from the previous year. Harvested area, at 575 thousand acres is up 2 percent from the previous year.
Pennsylvania wheat production is estimated at 11.38 million bushels, up 17 percent from 2014. Yield is estimated at 65.0 bushels per acre, unchanged from the previous year. Harvested area, at 175 thousand acres, is 17 percent higher than the previous year.
Oat production is estimated at 3.58 million bushels, up 3 percent from 2014. Yield is estimated at 55.0 bushels per acre, down 3.0 bushels from the previous year. Harvested area, at 65 thousand acres, is 8 percent above the previous year.
Barley production is estimated at 2.6 million bushels, down 27 percent from 2014. Yield is estimated at 65 bushels per acre, down 6.0 bushels from the previous year. Harvested area, at 40 thousand acres, is 20 percent below the previous year.
Hay production is estimated at 3.01 million tons, down 5 percent from 2014. Yield is estimated at 2.33 tons per acre, up 0.05 tons from the previous year. Harvested area, at 1.29 million acres, is 8 percent below the previous year.
Alfalfa production is estimated at 1.12 million tons, up 14 percent from 2014. Yield is estimated at 2.60 tons per acre, down .20 tons from the previous year. Harvested area, at 430 thousand acres, is up 23 percent from the previous year.
Tobacco production is estimated at 18.1 million pounds, down 19 percent from 2014. Yield is estimated at 2.29 thousand pounds per acre, down 155 pounds per acre from the previous year. Harvested area, at 7.9 thousand acres, is 13 percent below the previous year.
Potato production is estimated at 1,484 thousand cwt, up 4 percent from 2014. Yield is estimated at 280 cwt per acre, up 5 cwt from the previous year. Harvested area, at 5.3 thousand acres, is 2 percent above the previous year.