New York Farmers Pushing Record Soybean Acres

New York farmers intend to plant a record high 285,000 acres of soybeans in 2010, 12% more acres than planted in 2009, USAgNet reports. An estimated 282,000 acres will be harvested for soybeans, 11% more than last year.

The state’s producers are expected to plant 1,050,000 acres of corn for all purposes in 2010, 2% less acres than planted in 2009. Acreage for grain is expected to total 590,000 acres, down 1% from the 595,000 acres harvested last year. Acreage for harvest for all types of dry hay is expected to total 1.28 million acres, down 6% from last year.

Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures for dry hay, at 380,000 acres is up 9% and acres for other types of dry hay, at 900,000 acres, is down 11% from a year earlier. Dry bean acreage is estimated at 16,000 acres, the same as a year ago. Acreage for harvest is estimated at 15,500 acres, down slightly from the 15,600 acres harvested in 2009.

Production of oats in New York is estimated at 4.02 million bushels, down 13% from last year. Yields are forecast at 73 bushels per acre, down four bushels from last year. Area for harvest is projected at 55,000 acres, 8% less than the acres harvested in 2009.

Winter wheat production for the Empire State is estimated at 6.08 million bushels, down 11% from the 6.83 million bushels produced in 2009. Yields are forecast at 64 bushels per acre, the same as the June 1st forecast, but one bushel below last year. Harvested acreage is projected at 95,000 acres, down 10% from 2009.