Statistic Service predicts record sweet cherry crop; CRP deadline reminder
Washington Ag Today June 11, 2009 Washington’s sweet cherry crop is forecast to be record large this year. The Washington Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service is forecasting production of 180-thousand tons, up 80 percent from last year. If realized that would break the previous record of 168-thousand tons set in 2006. The combined sweet cherry production of Washington, Oregon and California is forecast to be 45 percent larger than in 2008. Washington’s Bartlett pear production is expected to be 170-thousand tons, up eight percent from 2008. Based on June 1st conditions Washington’s 2009 winter wheat crop is pegged at 102 million bushels, about six percent above last year’s production. There was no change in the yield estimate from last month’s forecast. Growers are expected to average 60 bushels an acre from 1.7 million acres. A reminder that June 30th is the deadline for landowners with Conservation Reserve Program contracts that expire this September to sign up to extend them. USDA’s Beverly Preston says not all acreage with expiring contracts will be accepted. Preston: “There is a total of 3.9 million that will be expiring September 30th but we are only making this offer to 1.5 million acres.” Eligibility will be determined by the Environmental Benefit Index at the time the landowner entered the program. Again that sign up deadline is June 30th. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
