The November 2010 California Crop Production forecast from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in Sacramento, Calif.

Corn

Corn for grain production is expected at 764,000 tons, down 5 percent from last year. Harvested acreage of 140,000 is down 12 percent. The yield forecast of 5.46 tons per acre is up 8 percent from last year.

Cotton

American Pima cotton production in California is forecast at 450,000 bales, unchanged from last month’s forecast, but up 25 percent from the 2009 crop. Harvested acreage is estimated at 184,000 acres resulting in a yield of 1,174 pounds per acre.

Upland cotton is forecast at 380,000 bales, unchanged from last month’s forecast, but up 58 percent from last year. With harvested acreage of 123,000 acres, the resulting yield is 1,483 pounds per acre. As of Nov. 1, the cotton harvest was in full swing.

Rice

All rice production in California is forecast at 45.8 million hundredweight for 2010, down 4 percent from the previous year. The yield forecast is 8,100 pounds per acre. The harvested acreage is estimated at 566,000. Harvest began in mid September and is ongoing.

Sugar beets

California sugar beet production is forecast at 1.0 million tons, up 13 percent from the 2009 crop. Harvested acreage is estimated at 25,000. The yield forecast is 40.0 tons per acre.

NASS conducted the survey the last week of October and the first week of November.

NASS production forecasts are released monthly and do not reflect final production estimates.

Late fall harvests may change these forecasts.

The next production forecast will be issued Dec. 9, 2010.