Mike Pearson examines the monthly crop production report released last Thursday by the USDA.

The report includes corn, soybeans and various specialty crops.

Cotton production is down this year. In 2022, farmers produced 14.5 million bales. This year, farmers made 12.8 million bales.

Sunflower production is down 22 percent from 2022 but it is considered one of the highest yielding sunflower crops reported. In 2022, there were 2.19 billion bushels sold and in 2023, analysts predict 2.08 billion bushels on less acreage than in 2022.

Peanuts also had a rough year due to the dry conditions in the fields and extreme heat making the ground they are grown in similar to concrete. However, there were 200,000 more acres planted. This resulted in almost 7 million pounds of peanuts.

Alfalfa had a good year with 53 million tons produced, that up 5 million tons from 2022. Grass hay producers reportedly produced 70 million tons.

And sorghum producers produced 360 million bushels in 2023.

Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness.