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Breaking Crop News from the USDA
NEW YORK, June 30 (Reuters) - The following comments were released by the
U.S. Agriculture Department as part of its Annual Acreage Report:
Corn Planted Acreage Down 7 Percent from 2007
Soybean Acreage Up 17 Percent
All Wheat Acreage Up 5 Percent
All Cotton Acreage Down 15 Percent
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Midwest Flood
Extensive rains and flooding during June caused producers in several
Midwestern States to change their harvesting intentions for crops
already planted, modify planting decisions for the small percentage of
acres not yet planted, and consider replanting options. NASS collected
most of the data for the annual Acreage report before the majority of
the flooding occurred. In an effort to more accurately determine how
many acres producers still intend to harvest for grain, NASS
re-interviewed approximately 1,200 farmers June 23, 24, and 25 in the
flood-affected areas. As a result, it was determined that U.S. farmers
intend to harvest 90.4 percent of their planted acres of corn for grain.
This is a change from 92.4 percent as measured during the first 2 weeks
of June. U.S. farmers intend to harvest 96.8 percent of their planted
acres of soybeans. Without this additional survey data, historical
averages would have indicated 98.7 percent of soybean acres to be
harvested. NASS will conduct a more extensive acreage update survey
during July. Findings from this study will be incorporated in the August
Crop Production report.
Corn planted area for all purposes is estimated at 87.3 million acres, down
7 percent from last year. Despite the decrease, corn planted acreage is the
second highest since 1946, behind last year’s total of 93.6 million acres.
Growers expect to harvest 78.9 million acres for grain, down 9 percent from
2007. If realized, this would be the second highest since 1944, behind last
year. Farmers increased corn plantings 1.31 million acres from their March
intentions. Planting got off to a slow start across the Corn Belt, Ohio
Valley, and the northern half of the Great Plains as frequent precipitation
and cool temperatures during March and April prevented spring planting
preparations. Corn planting was 27 percent complete on May 4, down 32 points
from normal. Despite intermittent showers and below normal temperatures,
producers were able to make rapid progress during May, particularly across
the upper Midwest and northern Great Plains. Farmers reported that
97 percent of the intended corn acreage had been planted at the time of the
survey interview compared with the average of 98 percent for the past
10 years.
Soybean planted area for 2008 is estimated at 74.5 million acres, up
17 percent from last year but 1 percent below the record high acreage in
2006. Area for harvest, at 72.1 million acres, is up 15 percent from 2007.
Compared with last year, planted acreage increases are expected in all
States, and the U.S. planted area for soybeans is the third largest on
record. The largest increase is expected in Nebraska, up 950,000 acres from
2007, followed by Illinois and South Dakota, both up 900,000 acres.
Increases of at least 800,000 acres are also expected in Indiana, Iowa, and
Minnesota. If realized, the planted acreage in Kansas, New York, and
Pennsylvania will be the largest on record. Nationally, farmers reported
that 79 percent of the intended soybean acreage had been planted at the time
of the survey interview, which is the lowest since 1996.
All wheat planted area is estimated at 63.5 million acres, up 5 percent from
2007. The 2008 winter wheat planted area, at 46.6 million acres, is
4 percent above last year but down slightly from the previous estimate. Of
this total, about 31.9 million acres are Hard Red Winter, 11.0 million acres
are Soft Red Winter, and 3.7 million acres are White Winter. Area planted to
other spring wheat for 2008 is estimated at 14.2 million acres, up 7 percent
from 2007. Of this total, about 13.4 million acres are Hard Red Spring
wheat. The Durum planted area for 2008 is 2.66 million acres, up 24 percent
from the previous year.
All Cotton plantings for 2008 are estimated at 9.25 million acres, 15 percent
below last year and the lowest since 1983. Upland planted area is estimated
at 9.04 million acres, down 14 percent from 2007. Decreased planted acres
are estimated for all States except Oklahoma and Virginia. The largest
percentage declines are in California and Mississippi where upland producers
planted 44 percent fewer acres than last year at 110,000 acres and
370,000 acres, respectively. American-Pima cotton growers planted
202,000 acres, down 31 percent from 2007.
This report was approved on June 30, 2008.
Secretary of
Agriculture
Edward T. Schafer
Agricultural Statistics Board
Chairperson
Carol C. House
