Georgia farmers increase acreage for peanuts, hay and oats

These increases offset decreases in acreage planted in cotton, corn and winter wheat

PUBLISHED ON July 28, 2024

MACON, Ga. — Georgia farmers devoted more land to peanuts, hay and oats in 2024 compared to 2023, according to the June Acreage Report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

These increases offset decreases in acreage planted in cotton, corn and winter wheat. (All acreage numbers referenced here are estimates.)

Georgia growers planted 850,000 acres in peanuts in 2024 up from 775,000 in 2023, an increase of 9.6%. Nationwide, the USDA estimates 1,757 million acres of peanuts have been planted, up from the 1,645 million planted last year.

Oats were planted on 60,000 acres in 2024, up from 55,000 in 2023, an increase of 9%. USDA estimates 2.299 million acres of oats were planted this year nationwide, down from the 2.55 million planted in 2023.

Georgia cotton growers planted 1.1 million acres in 2024, down 10,000 acres from 2023, when they planted 1.11 million acres. Nationwide, the USDA estimates 11.7 million acres of cotton have been planted, up 14% from the 10.2 million acres planted in 2023.

Corn is planted on 440,000 acres in 2024, down from 485,000 acres in 2023, a drop of 9% for Georgia. The USDA estimates 91.5 million acres of corn have been planted nationwide, down 3% or 3.17 million acres from last year.

Winter wheat was planted on an estimated 145,000 acres statewide in 2024, down from195,000 acres in 2023, a decline of 26%. The 2024 planted acreage in winter wheat is the state’s lowest since 2019. Nationwide, all wheat planted for 2024 is estimated at 47.2 million acres, down 5 percent from 2023.

Georgia’s soybean acreage held steady at 160,000 acres in 2024, with no change from 2023. US soybean planted acreage for 2024 is estimated at 86.1 million acres, up 3 percent from last year.

The state’s tobacco acreage, which is historically detailed in NASS’ June Acreage Report, is no longer being counted by the agency. UGA Extension Tobacco Specialist Dr. J. Michael Moore estimated Georgia farmers have planted 7,500 acres in 2024. NASS reported 6,500 acres planted in tobacco in 2023.

–Georgia Farm Bureau