Georgia forecast for smallest tobacco crop since 1932

Georgia growers are expected to produce 16.5 million pounds of tobacco in 2020, according to the July crop production report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), released recently.

The expected production would represent a 13% decline from 2019, when Georgia’s tobacco growers produced 18.9 million pounds. It would also be the smallest Georgia tobacco crop since 1932. The decline is due in part to a reduction in acreage. According to NASS, Georgia growers planted approximately 7,500 acres of tobacco in 2020, down from 9,000 acres in 2019.

NASS’ June Acreage Report, released June 30, also estimated Georgia’s planted acreage in 2020 for the state’s row crops. Georgia corn, cotton and soybean growers are all expected to plant fewer acres in 2020 than in 2019.

The state’s cotton acreage is forecast at 1.23 million acres in 2020, down from 1.4 million acres in 2019, a reduction of 12%. Georgia peanut growers are expected to plant 710,000 acres in 2020, up from 670,000 acres in 2019, an increase of 6%. Georgia soybean growers are expected to plant 90,000 acres in 2020, down from 100,000 acres in 2019.

NASS forecast Georgia’s winter wheat acreage at 190,000 acres in 2020, up 27% from 2019, when Georgia growers planted 150,000 acres. Georgia growers planted an estimated 80,000 acres in oats in 2020, up from 70,000 acres in 2019.

Nevertheless, the 2020 Georgia corn, peanut and soybean crops are forecast to increase over 2019, according to the August Crop Production Report from the USDA.

Georgia corn for grain production in 2020 is forecast at 62.4 million bushels, up 12% from 2019. Yield is forecast at a record high 181 bushels per acre, a 21-bushel increase over 2019.

Georgia peanut production is forecast at 3.22 billion pounds, up 16% from 2019. Yield is forecast at a record high 4,600 pounds per acre in 2020, up 400 pounds per acre from 2019.

Georgia soybean production, forecast at 3.11 million bushels, is up 15%. Yield is forecast at 37 bushels per acre, up 8 bushels from 2019.

Georgia 2020 hay production is forecast at 1.7 million tons, up from 1.54 million tons in 2019. Georgia hay growers are forecast to harvest 610,000 acres in 2020, a 50,000-acre increase from 2019.

Georgia peach production is forecast at 28,000 tons, down 28% from 2019.

Georgia cotton growers reduced their planted area by 170,000 acres, planting 1.23 million acres in 2020. Their forecast production, at 2.55 million bales, is down 7% from last year.