Hawaii’s seed crop value declines 10 percent
The value of Hawaii’s seed industry is estimated at $217 million for the 2012-13 season. This preliminary estimate represents an 10 percent decline from the 2011-12 revised estimate of $242 million, which was a record high. This decline is attributed to operating and organizational changes, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service — Pacific Region.
Seed corn accounts for $205 million, or 95 percent, of the total value in 2012-13. Various other seed crops account for the remaining 5 percent, the service stated in its latest report.
Outshipments of seed are projected to total 12.3 million pounds during the 2012-13 season, up 15 percent from the revised 10.8 million pounds shipped during the previous season. Acreage harvested for all seed crops is expected to total 7,040 during the 2012-13 season, up 2 percent from the previous revised season, the service stated.