Harvest is winding down and so are the adjusted corn and soybean yields for most of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states.

Corn yield and production dropped in three of the four major corn and soybean states in the region, according to the November crop production report from the USDA.

Soybean production and yields dropped in Delaware and Pennsylvania. A bad dry spell in August and September hammered soybean yields in Delaware. The average soybean yield was adjusted down from 43 bushels an acre in the October report to 38 bushels an acre in the November report. Overall soybean production in the First State is estimated at 5.8 million bushels, down 16.7% from last year.

Delaware, Maryland and New York each saw estimated corn yields and production drop in the November report. Soybean yields and production were unchanged in Maryland, New Jersey and New York.

The graphic below illustrates corn and soybean production, and yields in the four major corn and soybean states of the region in comparison to 2018.

U.S. corn production is forecast at 13.7 billion bushels, down less than 1% from October and down 5% from 2018. Yields are expected to average 167 bushels per acre, up slightly from 2018.  

Farmers are expected to harvest 81.8 million acres of grain, up slightly from last year.

Soybean production is 3.55 billion bushels, down 20% from 2018. Yields are forecast at 46.9 bushels, down 3.7 bushels from last year.

Farmers are expected to harvest 75.6 million acres, down 14% from 2018.

More Maine potatoes

Potato production is up in Maine, the largest potato producer in the region.

Maine producers planted 51,500 acres of potatoes this year, up from last year’s 48,500 acres.

The yield is forecast at 320 per cwt, up from 310 per cwt. Production is forecast at 16,480 per cwt, up from last year’s 15,035 per cwt.

More oats, less barley and wheat

The November report provided the first glimpse into small grain production in the region.

Pennsylvania farms produced 2.65 million bushels of oats, up 64% from last year as harvested acreage increased by 15,000 acres. Average yield is 53 bushels an acre, up 15% from last year.

New York farmers produced 2.34 million bushels, up 0.8% from last year. Harvested acreage — 39,000 acres — decreased by 4,000 acres. Average yield is 60 bushels an acre, up 11% from last year.

Maine farms produced 1.4 million bushels of oats, up 10.2% from last year. Harvested acreage — 19,000 acres — was unchanged. Average yield is 76 bushels an acre, up 13% from last year.

Barley production increased in Delaware but was down in every other state surveyed. Delaware farms produced 1.12 million bushels, up 2.75%. The average yield is 80 bushels an acre, up slightly from last year.

Maryland farmers produced 1.4 million bushels, down 16.6% from last year. The average yield is 85 bushels an acre, way up from last year’s 70-bushel average.

New York farmers produced 208,000 bushels, down 55% from last year. Only 4,000 acres were harvested this year. Average yield is 52 bushels an acre, down slightly from 58 bushels in 2018.

Pennsylvania farmers produced 1.75 million bushels of barley, down 15.45% from last year. Average yield is 70 bushels an acre, up from last year’s 63-bushel average.

Wheat production is down in every state except for Delaware and Pennsylvania. Delaware farms produced 3.6 million bushels of wheat, up 12.8% from last year. Average yield is 72 bushels an acre, up 1 bushel from last year. Pennsylvania farms produced 10.2 million bushels, up 8.51% from last year. Average yield is 73 bushels, up 8 bushels from last year.

Maryland farms produced 12.37 million bushels, down 1.85% over last year. The average yield is 75 bushels, up 12 bushels from last year.

New Jersey farms produced 924,000 bushels, down 0.64% from last year. Average yield is 66 bushels, up 4 bushels from last year.

New York farms produced 4.1 million bushels, down 37% from last year. Average yield is 63 bushels, down 6 bushels from last year.