Virginia crop report forecasts up season for soybeans, cotton, peanuts; corn down

Soybeans, cotton and peanuts are up, but corn and alfalfa hay are down, according to the latest crop production report for Virginia.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says the forecasts are based on conditions of Oct. 1. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service is the source.

The report found that soybean acreage and estimated bushels are up, while cotton producers are reporting similar gains. Growers expect to produce 200,000 bales, up 32 percent from last year.

Another signature Virginia crop, peanuts, is expected near 80 million pounds, up 28 percent from last year.

Corn, meantime, is expected to reach nearly 50 million bushels, down 10 percent.

Alfalfa hay production is also down, by 14 percent.