January 22, 2013

Delaware, US sees higher corn and soy yields in 2012

Corn and soy crop yields in Delaware, US, were higher than expected in 2012, despite unusually dry conditions and the arrival of Hurricane Sandy during the growing season, according to the USDA.

According to the report, Delaware farmers planted 185,000 acres of corn in 2012, down nearly 3% from 2011. Of those, 178,000 acres were harvested for grain and 5,000 acres were harvested for silage. Yield for grain is estimated at 135 bushels per acre, up nearly 4% from 2011, for a total production of 24 million bushels. Silage production increased 1,000 tonnes from 2011for a total production of 85,000 tonnes, an average of 17 tonnes per acre.

Farmers in the state also planted 170,000 acres of soy in 2012, equal to the year before. A total of 168,000 acres were harvested for beans at an average yield of 42 bushels per acre, up 7% from 2011. Total production of soy is estimated at 7.1 million bushels.

Hay was harvested on 16,000 acres in Delaware, up more than 6% from 2011. This resulted in 42,000 tonnes of hay produced, more than 7% more than 2011.

According to the USDA's first winter wheat forecast for 2013, Delaware farmers planted 75,000 acres of the crop last fall, down 13% from 2012.