Despite an expected 9 percent drop in production for this year’s cranberry crops in Massachusetts, the state is still expected to have a record-breaking season.

Last week, officials released the forecast for this year’s crops.

At the 125th annual meeting and tradeshow of the Cape Cod Grower’s Association at East Over Farm in Rochester on Tuesday, Gary Keough, Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, said that the forecast for next year’s crop is expected to produce 7.68 million barrels.

This, he said, is a 9 percent drop from the amount produced in 2011.

Keough said Massachusetts’ drop in numbers wouldn’t affect the state’s impact on the industry.

“If realized, this could be the third largest on record,” Keough said.

With this year’s mild winter, growth has started ahead of schedule, he said.

“We have good growing conditions,” Keough said.

Despite the strange start to the growing season, including a particularly dry summer, Rochester cranberry grower Kirby Gilmore agreed.

“Last year was the biggest crop in history,” Gilmore said. “With the recent rain, we’ve caught up with what we needed.”

Congressman William Keating congratulated the association on being one of the largest contributors to the industry.

“I think this will be the largest cranberry providing district in America. Last year, the Massachusetts’ cranberry industry brought in $120 million in revenue alone,” Keating told the industry professionals gathered at the event. “You can’t beat the farming that goes on in southeastern Massachusetts.”

Also present was Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown.

“You are the muscle behind the cranberry industry here in Massachusetts,” Brown told the crowd. “I’m very honored to be here.”

Brown and Keating are two of the members of the Cranberry Caucus in Washington, DC,  which seeks to promote the cranberry industry as well as the health benefits of cranberry products.

Local growers spent the day honoring the hard work of the association’s past and current members.

Rochester resident and fifth-generation cranberry grower Brad Morse has served as president of the association since 2010.

As for this year’s forecast, Morse said: “We’ll see what happens when the last truck leaves the farm.”