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

Black cutworm flocks to Indiana
Record numbers of black cutworm moths have descended upon Indiana fields, and after a week of warm temperatures and rainfall now is a critical time to scout, a Purdue Extension entomologist says.

May 21, 2012 1 Photo
FFA Soil Judging Team participates at national contest
The Rushville FFA Soils Judging Team, consisting of Nicole Hoeing, Ross Pickering, Brian Busald, Joe Fey, alternate Raegan Smith, and coach Josh Henderson along with advisor Blair Orme, has returned home after participating in the 61st annual National Land and Range Judging Contest in Oklahoma City.

May 11, 2012 1 Photo
Local student awarded United Producers Inc. (UPI) 2012 scholarship
Douglass Wicker of Milroy, recently received a $1,000 United Producers Inc. scholarship.

May 11, 2012 1 Photo
Growers have options for freeze-damaged wheat
A late-April freeze damaged some of northern Indiana's early progressing winter wheat crop, leaving growers to decide whether to let the crop yield or tear it up altogether.

May 11, 2012
Black cutworm flocks to Indiana
Record numbers of black cutworm moths have descended upon Indiana fields, and after a week of warm temperatures and rainfall now is a critical time to scout, a Purdue Extension entomologist says.

May 11, 2012
Farm conservation practices
Farm conservation practices not only preserve soil and water, but they also can save growers money, says a Purdue Extension agronomist.

May 9, 2012
Report: U.S. farmers say they'll plant most corn acres since 1937
U.S. grain farmers this spring intend to plant the nation's highest corn acreage since 1937, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released March 30.

May 8, 2012
Farmland prices expected to keep rising
WEST LAFAYETTE - A survey indicating that farmland values are expected to continue increasing is more good news for landowners but could also signal caution for buyers, an agricultural economist says.

May 7, 2012
Enrollment reminder for Direct and Counter-Cyclical payments
Julia A. Wickard, state executive director of USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers that the 2012 deadline to enroll in the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment (DCP) program is June 1.

May 4, 2012
Weird weather and pest predictions
I was asked the other day what affect this strange weather will have on our pest problems this year. That is always a very tough topic for me.

April 4, 2012
More Agriculture Headlines

Agriculture

Search Results

Discussion

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

Site Map

Contact Us