News

USDA sees largest U.S. corn acreage since 1937

The Ag Department is projecting big year to year increases in corn and wheat planting along with a slight reduction for soybeans and a big drop for cotton.

USDA expects U.S. farmers to plant corn on 95.864 million acres this year, up 4% from 2011 and above the high end of pre-report expectations. If realized, this would be the most corn planted since 1937’s 97.2 million acres, with USDA projecting record acreage in Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Soybeans are pegged at 73.902 million acres, down 1% on the year and below the range of analysts’ estimates. USDA’s expecting bean acreage to be down or unchanged in most of the Cornbelt and Great Plains, with the exceptions of Illinois, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Total planted area for wheat is seen at 55.908 million acres, 3% above a year ago but below pre-report estimates, with winter wheat declining 1% since USDA’s last guess and spring wheat 3% below last year. USDA anticipates increased acreage in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas against record low winter wheat planted area in Nebraska and Ohio and a new record low for spring wheat in South Dakota. By type, winter wheat is pegged at 41.709 million acres, up 3% from last year, spring wheat is placed at 11.976 million acres, down 3%, and durum is seen at 2.223 million acres, a 62% jump from 2011.

Cotton acreage is estimated at 13.155 million, an 11% year to year decrease and below analysts’ expectations. Upland cotton is pegged at 12.885 million acres, also down 11% from a year ago, and American pima is seen at 270,000 acres, 12% below 2011.

Selected crops in Brownfield states:

Illinois: Corn: 12.5 million acres, down 1% from 2011; Soybeans: 9 million acres, up 1% from 2011; Winter wheat: 660,000 acres, down 17% from 2011; Sorghum: 25,000 acres, up 14% from 2011; Oats: 30,000 acres, unchanged from 2011; All hay (harvested): 540,000 acres, unchanged from 2011.

Indiana: Corn: 6.1 million acres, up 3% from 2011; Soybeans: 5.1 million acres, down 4% from 2011; Winter wheat: 390,000 acres, down 9% from 2011; Oats: 20,000 acres, up 33% from 2011; All hay (harvested): 670,000 acres, unchanged from 2011.

Iowa: Corn: 14.6 million acres, up 4% from 2011; Soybeans: 8.8 million acres, down 6% from 2011; Winter wheat: 25,000 acres, up 14% from 2011; Oats: 130,000 acres, up 8% from 2011; All hay (harvested): 1.15 million acres, up 1% from 2011.

Missouri: Corn: 3.3 million acres, unchanged 2011; Soybeans: 5.1 million acres, down 5% from 2011; Winter wheat: 770,000 acres, down 3% from 2011; Cotton: 375,000 acres, unchanged from 2011; Sorghum: 80,000 acres, double 2011; Oats: 20,000 acres, up 33% from 2011; All hay (harvested): 3.65 million acres, down 3% from 2011; Rice: 151,000 acres, up 6% from 2011.

Nebraska: Corn: 10.3 million acres, up 5% from 2011; Soybeans: 4.7 million acres, down 4% from 2011; Winter wheat: 1.35 million acres, down 11% from 2011; Sorghum: 165,000 acres, up 10% from 2011; Oats: 75,000 acres, up 25% from 2011; All hay (harvested): 2.4 million acres, down 3% from 2011.

Ohio: Corn: 3.8 million acres, up 12% from 2011; Soybeans: 4.55 million acres, unchanged from 2011; Winter wheat: 580,000 acres, down 34% from 2011; Oats: 55,000 acres, up 10% from 2011; All hay (harvested): 1.05 million acres, down 6% from 2011.

South Dakota: Corn: 5.5 million acres, up 6% from 2011; Soybeans: 4.3 million acres, up 5% from 2011; Winter wheat: 1.35 million acres, down 18% from 2011; Spring wheat: 1.1 million acres, down 12% from 2011; Durum: 8,000 acres, unchanged from 2011; Sorghum: 170,000 acres, up 13% from 2011; Oats: 130,000 acres, up 8% from 2011; Barley: 30,000 acres, up 20% from 2011; All hay (harvested): 3.5 million acres, down 1% from 2011; Sunflower: 540,000 acres, up 11% from 2011; Flaxseed: 10,000 acres, up 25% from 2011.

Wisconsin: Corn: 4.2 million acres, up 1% from 2011; Soybeans: 1.68 million acres, up 4% from 2011; Winter wheat: 265,000 acres, down 23% from 2011; Oats: 220,000 acres, up 5% from 2011; 30,000 acres, down 9% from 2011; All hay (harvested): 1.65 million acres, up 3% from 2011.