The department lowered its forecast of the cotton crop by 6 percent and reduced its estimate for soybeans by 3 percent. The government is not allowed to estimate cotton prices. The drought started in the East and spread across portions of the Midwest and down across much of the South. It turned out to be a boon for some growers in the East. New York is expected to harvest 1.2 million pounds of apples this year, up 160,000 pounds from last year, because the drought reduced insect and disease problems and September rains came in time to increase the size of the fruit.
Production also is up in Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Eastern grape crops also are better this year because of the dry weather. Meanwhile, USDA says this year's orange crop will hit 12.1 million tons, up 22 percent from last year when a freeze badly damaged California's production. Orange prices are unlikely to change much, however, because of low inventory and high demand for juice, said Andy LaVigne, chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual.