CROP HIGHLIGHTS 



CORN SILAGE 



Massachusetts fanners made a record high of 780,000 tons of corn silage in 1981 , 15 percent more than in 

 1980. A yield of 20 tons per acre compared with 17 the preceding year was responsible for the increase. 

 Value of the crop of nearly $20 million was 3 percent more than in 1980. 



A dry spring allowed soil tillage earlier than normal. Frosts didn't occur until later than normal in the 

 fall, so the crop matured well. Harvest difficulty was caused by fall rains. 



HAY 



Production of all hay in 1981 totaled 278,000 tons, 8 percent more than in 1980. Increased acreage and 

 higher yield both contributed to the increase. Value of the 1981 crop at $22 million, was 14 percent more 

 than the 1980 crop. Rains in early summer interfered with curing the first cutting, but helped growth of 

 the second cutting. Alfalfa came through the winter well and yielded well. 



POTATOES 



Potato production in 1981 totaled 743,000 hundredweight, 1 percent less than the 1980 total. One hundred 

 fewer acres were harvested in 1981 than in 1980, but yield was 225 hundredweight per acre, compared with 

 220 for 1980. Because of lower price, the value of the 1981 crop is expected to be $4.6 million, 17 percent 

 less then the value of the 1980 crop. 



TOBACCO 



Production of all tobacco in 1981 totaled nearly two million pounds and had a value of $15.0 million, com- 

 pared with 1980 production of 1.9 million pounds and a value of $14.2 million. 



Shade tobacco production was 14,180,000 pounds in 1981, 4 percent more than the year before. Acreage, at 900, 

 was down 40 acres from last year. Yield, at 1,500 pounds per acre, was 25 pounds higher than in the pre- 

 ceding year. 



Havana Seed production, at 552,000 pounds in 1981, was 10 percent more than in 1980. Although acreage in 

 1981 of 240 was down slightly from the 1980 level, yield of 2,300 pounds per acre in 1981 compared with 

 2,000 the year before, more than compensated for the slight decline in acreage. 



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