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USDA projects record soybean acreage

The USDA expects record U.S. soybean acreage.

The projection of 89.482 million acres would be up 7% from the 2016 total of 83.433 million, with intentions unchanged or higher in 27 of the 31 states listed by the Ag Department, including new record highs for Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Corn acreage is expected to be 89.996 million acres, 4% below the year ago total of 84.004 million, with intentions steady to lower in 38 of the listed states.

Wheat acreage could be the smallest since 1919 at 46.059 million acres, 8% less than last year’s total of 50.154 million acres. Winter wheat is seen at 32.747 million acres, 9% lower than 2016, with new all-time lows for Nebraska and Ohio. Spring wheat is pegged at 11.308 million acres, down 3% on the year, with a new record low for South Dakota. Durum acreage is expected to be 2.004 million acres, a drop of 17%, with a new record low in South Dakota.

The numbers are just estimates and could be impacted by a number of factors, including weather and commodity prices.

Acreage estimates for selected crops in Brownfield states:

Illinois: Corn: 11.3 million acres, down 3% from 2016; Soybeans: 10.2 million acres, up 1% from 2016; Winter Wheat: 480,000 acres, down 8% from 2016

Indiana: Corn: 5.6 million acres, unchanged from 2016; Soybeans: 6 million acres, up 6% from 2016; Winter Wheat: 260,000 acres, down 21% from 2016

Iowa: Corn: 13.3 million acres, down 4% from 2016; Soybeans: 10.1 million acres, up 6% from 2016; Winter Wheat: 25,000 acres, unchanged from 2016

Michigan: Corn: 2.3 million acres, down 4% from 2016; Soybeans: 2.35 million acres, up 14% from 2016; Winter Wheat: 430,000 acres, down 30% from 2016

Minnesota: Corn: 8 million acres, down 5% from 2016; Soybeans: 8.25 million acres, up 9% from 2016; Winter Wheat: 14,000 acres, up 27% from 2016; Spring Wheat: 1.29 million acres, down 2% from 2016

Missouri: Corn: 3.25 million acres, down 11% from 2016; Soybeans: 5.65 million acres, up 1% from 2016; Winter Wheat: 620,000 acres, down 10% from 2016

Nebraska: Corn: 9.55 million acres, down 3% from 2016; Soybeans: 5.7 million acres, up 10% from 2016; Winter Wheat: 1.11 million acres, down 19% from 2016

Ohio: Corn: 3.55 million acres, unchanged from 2016; Soybeans: 5 million acres, up 3% from 2016; Winter Wheat: 470,000 acres, down 19% from 2016

South Dakota: Corn: 5.4 million acres, down 4% from 2016; Soybeans: 5.4 million acres, up 4% from 2016; Winter Wheat: 900,000 acres, down 24% from 2016; Spring Wheat: 940,000 acres, down 13% from 2016; Durum: 4,000 acres, down 60% from 2016

Wisconsin: Corn: 4 million acres, down 1% from 2016; Soybeans: 2.15 million acres, up 10% from 2016; Winter Wheat: 220,000 acres, down 19% from 2016