USDA's report shows highest U.S. corn acreage since 1944

Agriculture

Discussion

May 3, 2007

Julie Douglas The Rushville Republican Thu May 03, 2007, 11:44 AM EDT

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Farmers have responded to the corn ethanol boom by indicating they will plant the largest corn acreage in the United States since 1944.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's March 30 Prospective Plantings report shows that growers plan to plant 90.5 million acres of corn, a 12.1-million-acre increase over the 2006 corn crop.

"Those added acres come primarily from shifting acres from soybeans, cotton and spring wheat," Chris Hurt, Purdue University agricultural economics specialist, said.

Soybean acreage is expected to be down 8.4 million acres, and spring wheat acreage is projected to decline by 1.1 million acres.

Indiana producers were no exception, as corn acreage is expected to be up by 13 percent. Indiana producers indicated they will plant 6.2 million acres of corn, up 700,000 acres and the highest number of acres planted since 1985. Acres planted to soybeans is expected to drop to five million, the lowest since 1995.

Corn for ethanol production is expected to surge by at least 65 percent for the 2007 corn crop compared to last year's crop, Hurt said. This expected surge caused corn prices to be very high during the winter, which led producers to increase acreage to meet the growing demand, he said.

If the final corn acreage planted is close to the 90.5 million acres with normal yields, production could reach 12.5 billion bushels this fall. This would allow some further expansion of ethanol and meet most of the continuing corn needs of the livestock industry and foreign buyers.

"Weather conditions that threaten normal yields could jeopardize the expected growth in ethanol production and increase food prices," Hurt said. "With corn's strong demand, everyone will be watching the weather closely this spring and summer."

The huge drop in soybean acreage will reduce this year's national crop to 2.7 billion bushels. However, there will be a large inventory of unused 2006 crop beans that will mean total supplies near 3.3 billion bushels, with usage expected to be near 3.1 billion bushels. There will be sufficient soybeans for the 2007-2008 marketing year, but supplies will

be tightening and prices will tend to move upward as a result, Hurt said. For soybeans as well as corn, a favorable weather year is needed to avoid shortages and much higher prices, he said.

Text Only

Agriculture

CHICK CHATTER WORKSHOP
4-H Poultry members, their parents, and anyone else who is a poultry
enthusiast, are invited to attend a Poultry Workshop on Wednesday, February
22nd, at 7 pm, at the Root Building on the Rush County Fairgrounds.

February 10, 2012
Planting pilot project available to Indiana producers
Julia A. Wickard, Executive Director of USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Indiana, announced that the Planting Transferability Pilot Project (PTPP) permits Indiana producers to plant approved vegetables for processing on base acres under the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP) or Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE).

February 10, 2012
Richland Farmers and Farmerettes
Richland Farmers and Farmerettes met at 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at the New Salem
Lions Club. Sue Herbert, Alan Amos and Carol Holzback are the
club's leaders.

February 7, 2012
United Producers Scholarship Program
United Producers Inc. (UPI) is excited to support the future generation of agriculture through its scholarship program. UPI is offering two $1000 scholarships in each of its 16 districts to deserving high school and college students pursuing agriculture degrees.

February 6, 2012
Center Lucky Sodbusters 4-H
The Center Lucky Sodbusters 4H Club met at 6 p.m. Jan. 17, 2011 at Center Christian Church.

February 6, 2012
Enrollment for 2012 DCP and ACRE programs began this week
January 27, 2012
N.A.I.L.E. news (2)
Caroline Kuhn won Grand Champion Market Lamb during the North East Youth Sheep Show held at the Big E in West Springfield, Mass.

January 27, 2012 1 Photo
N.A.I.L.E. news
Emilie and Caroline Kuhn recently exhibited at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky.

January 27, 2012 1 Photo
Swine herd expansion modest, despite return to profitability
Hog producers have remained cautious about expanding their breeding herds despite the industry's return to profitability – a wise decision considering there is still much economic uncertainty for them, Purdue Extension agricultural economist Chris Hurt says.

January 23, 2012
Researchers: Honeybee deaths linked to seed insecticide exposure
Honeybee populations have been in serious decline for years, and Purdue University scientists may have identified one of the factors that cause bee deaths around agricultural fields.

January 12, 2012
More Agriculture Headlines

Agriculture

Search Results

Discussion

USDA's report shows highest U.S. corn acreage since 1944

Site Map

Contact Us