Using the results of a survey conducted March 1 by the USDA/National Ag
Statistics Service - Virginia Field Office, the Virginia Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services reports that Virginia’s corn
producers intend to decrease acreage in 2009 to 440,000. If realized,
planted acreage would be 30,000 acres below last year.
Peanut producers intend to plant 12,000 acres, which is a 50 percent
decrease from last year. Higher than normal peanut stocks, have
discouraged producers. Oat producers intend to plant 15,000 acres, which
is 25 percent above last year. Land intended for hay production is
1,210,000 acres, down 5 percent from 2008. Winter wheat acres decreased
6 percent to
290,000 acres.
Virginia’s cotton producers expect to plant 65,000 acres, up 7
percent from last year. Soybean acreage is estimated to be 570,000
acres, a 2 percent decrease from 2008. Barley acreage seeded last fall
for all uses was 66,000 acres, up 5 percent from last year.
Tobacco acreage intentions devoted to flue are unchanged from last
year’s acreage of 17,000. Fire-cured tobacco producers intend to
harvest 600 acres, up 100 acres from last year. Burley producers intend
to harvest 2,000 acres this year, which is unchanged from 2008.
Planting of major row crops is just in the beginning or planning
stages. Therefore, producers may change their plans as the planting
season progresses.
Contact: Elaine J. Lidholm
Director, Office of Communication
Va. Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services (VDACS)
Oliver W. Hill Building
102 Governor Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804)786-7686
