More than 14.2 billion bushels of corn and 4.14 billion bushels of soybeans were produced nationwide in 2020, both up from 2019. So, how did the Northeast do?

Well, production was mostly lower in 2020, but there were some bright spots, including New Jersey, which likely scored a record corn crop. The National Agricultural Statistics Service released its final 2020 crop production numbers last week.

Corn grain

Pennsylvania, the largest corn production state in the Northeast, produced 138 million bushels, down 14% from 2019, although the final number is about average for the state. Yields also were down from 153 bushels per acre in 2019 to 138 bushels per acre in 2020. Producers planted 1.5 million acres, up from 2019, but harvested 1 million acres, down from the previous year.

New York farmers produced 80.07 million bushels, down 7% from 2019 and the lowest grain crop since 2017. Yields were down slightly at 157 bushels per acre. Producers planted 1.05 million acres, up from 2019, but harvested 510,000 acres, down from the previous year.

Maryland farmers produced 66.65 million bushels, down 10% from 2019 but right about the state’s average. Yields were 155 bushels per acre, down 6 bushels from 2019. Producers planted 480,000 acres and harvested 430,000 acres, both down from the previous year.

Delaware farmers produced 28.16 million bushels, down slightly from 2019. The average yield was 160 bushels per acre, down 1 bushel. Acres planted — 180,000 — and harvested — 176,000 — also declined from the previous year.

It was a good year for Garden State corn growers. The 12.48 million bushels is the highest since 2014 and might be a new record for the state. Yield was up 1 bushel to 156 bushels per acre. Acres planted — 87,000 — and harvested — 80,000 — both increased from 2019.

Corn silage

While grain production decreased in Pennsylvania and New York, silage production was way up.

Empire State growers produced 9.54 million tons of silage, the highest since 2000 and more than 1 million tons higher than 2019. Average yield was 18 tons per acre. Growers harvested 530,000 acres of silage, up nearly 100,000 acres from 2019.

Pennsylvania growers harvested 9.2 million tons of silage, the most since 2017 and nearly 2 million tons more than 2019. The average yield was 19 tons per acre, down 1 ton from 2019. Growers harvested 485,000 silage acres, up 105,000 acres from the previous year.

Soybeans

Pennsylvania growers produced 28.9 million bushels of soybeans, down about 1 million bushels from 2019, but still at the top end of production for the past 10 years. Average yield was 46 bushels per acre, down 3 bushels from 2019. Soybean acres planted — 640,000 acres — and harvested — 630,000 — both increased from 2019.

New York growers produced 15.9 million bushels of soybeans, the highest since 2018 and the second highest since 2000. Average yield was 51 bushels per acre, up 3 bushels from 2019. Planted and harvested acres —315,000 acres and 312,000 acres, respectively — were both up from 2019.

Maryland growers produced 21.8 million bushels of soybeans, up slightly from the previous year. Average yield was 47 bushels per acre, up 3 bushels from 2019. Planted acres totaled 485,000, up 5,000 from the previous year, but harvested acres — 465,000 — decreased from 2019.

Ohio

Farmers in the Buckeye State produced 564 million bushels of corn, a 33.8% increase over 2019. Average yield was 171 bushels per acre, up 7 bushels from the previous year. Acres harvested was 3.3 million, up slightly from the previous year.

More than 200,000 acres of silage was harvested, 30,000 more acres than 2019. Total production was 4.2 million tons, more than 1 million tons over 2019. Average yield was 21 tons per acre, 2 tons more than 2019.

Soybean production came in at 262.9 million bushels, a 25% increase over 2019. Average yield was 54 bushels per acre, 5 bushels higher than the previous year. Acres harvested was 4.87 million, slightly higher than 2019.

Michigan

Corn grain and soybean production were both higher in 2020 while silage production decreased slightly.

More than 306 million bushels of corn were produced by Michigan farmers, a 29% increase over 2019. Average yield was 154 bushels per acre, 7 bushels higher than 2019. Area harvested — 1.9 million acres —was up 300,000 acres over 2019.

Silage production dropped slightly to 6.1 million tons from 350,000 acres. Average production was 19 tons per acre, up 1 ton from 2019.

Soybean production was 102 million bushels, up 46% from 2019. Average yield was 47 bushels per acre, up 6.5 bushels from the previous year. Area harvested was 2.19 million acres, up slightly from 2019.

Find more information on hay, potato and tobacco production by clicking one of the links below.

Reports

Northeast crop summary

Ohio crop summary

Michigan crop summary