This is a monthly column from the Northeastern Regional Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS-NERFO).

Vegetable data in the Northeastern United States to be collected

In the coming months, the Vegetable Grower Inquiry survey will be conducted. We plan to collect data from vegetable growers across the United States, including over three thousand in the Northeastern Region.

This vegetable survey is conducted annually to obtain the final acreage, production, and value of sales for fresh and processed vegetables. When growers respond to these surveys, they provide essential information that helps us determine the production and supply of these commodities in the United States for the year. Everyone who relies on agriculture for their livelihoods is interested in the results.

The data for these surveys will be gathered online and by phone interviews. Growers provide information on crop acreage, production, and value of sales. The survey information will be analyzed, and data published in a series of USDA reports, including the Annual Vegetable Release, scheduled for Feb. 12, 2025.

Hog data in the NE US to be collected

In December, we will conduct the annual, end-of-year Hog survey. This survey is a comprehensive gathering of quarterly data on market hog and breeding stock inventories as well as pig crop and farrowing intentions in every state. This key data gathered in this survey allows NASS to accurately measure and report conditions and trends in the U.S. pork industry over the course of the year. The information is used by all sectors of the industry, including producers themselves, to help make sound and timely business decisions. The survey results will be published in the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report on Dec. 23,2024.

Nov. 1

crop forecasts

U.S. corn production for grain is forecast at 15.1 billion bushels, down less than 1% from the previous forecast and down 1% from 2023. Based on conditions as of Nov. 1, yields are expected to average a record high 183.1 bushels per harvested acre, down 0.7 bushel from the previous forecast but up 5.8 bushels from last year. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 82.7 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast but down 4% from the previous year.

U.S. soybean production is forecast at 4.46 billion bushels, down 3% from the previous forecast but up 7% from 2023. Based on conditions as of Nov. 1, yields are expected to average 51.7 bushels per acre, down 1.4 bushels from the previous forecast but up 1.1 bushels from 2023. Area harvested for beans in the United States is forecast at 86.3 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast but up 5% from 2023.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania corn production is forecast at 93.8 million bushels, down 12% from 2023. Based on conditions as of Nov. 1, yields are expected to average 139.0 bushels per acre, down 18 bushels from the 2023 average. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 675,000 acres, down 5,000 acres from 2023.

Soybean production is forecast at 25.8 million bushels, down 2% from last year. Based on Nov. 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 43.0 bushels per acre, down 4 bushels from last year. The area for harvest is forecast at 600 thousand acres, up 40,000 acres from 2023.

Land values

and cash rents

The 2024 Agricultural Land survey reflected an overall increase in value for cropland and farm real estate nationally with many states in the northeast among the top ten. New Jersey had the second highest cropland value in the nation and Pennsylvania and Maryland ranked 7th and 8th nationally. Rhode Island was ranked highest in the nation for overall dollars per acre of farm real estate with New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maryland also among the top ten in that category.