Ag News
Corn, peanut, soybean growers expected to increase acres
Posted on Apr 05, 2023 at 0:00 AM
Georgia farmers are expected to plant more acres in corn, peanut and soybeans in 2023, while cotton acres are forecast to decline, according to the Prospective Plantings Report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Georgia: Corn planted area for 2023 is estimated at 490,000 acres, up 15% from 2022. Cotton planted intentions are down 7% from last year at 1.20 million acres. Peanuts are estimated at 740,000 acres, up 8% from 2022. Producers intend to plant 170,000 acres of soybeans, up 3% from last year. Tobacco acreage, at 7,000 acres, is up 17% from last year. Winter wheat planted area is estimated at 170,000 acres, down 15% from last year.
Nationally, NASS estimated corn planted area for all purposes in 2023 at 92.0 million acres, up 4% from last year. Soybean planted area is estimated at 87.5 million acres, up slightly from last year. All wheat planted area, at 49.9 million acres is up 9% from 2022. All cotton planted area for 2023 is estimated at 11.3 million acres, down 18 percent from last year.
Meanwhile, mid-March freezing weather is expected to affect yields of blueberries and early variety peaches, according to NASS’ April 3 Crop Progress Report.
Also from the Crop Progress Report: Corn fields across the state were being planted and beginning to emerge. Some farmers in central and southeast Georgia were delayed in planting corn due to cool and wet conditions the week of March 27-31. Tobacco planting was also noted to be progressing slowly due to the wet conditions.
Peaches and blueberries were blooming, although both were negatively impacted by freezing temperatures in mid-March. Early varieties of peaches are expected to have a significant loss, though peaches that survived the freezes were reported to be in good condition now. Wheat, oat, and rye began to head out and were treated with fungicide applications during the week. Powdery mildew and cereal leaf beetle were noted as issues in eastern Georgia wheat. Vidalia onions were nearing maturity as producers were applying fungicides to prevent diseases as the April 17 pack date nears.
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