USDA Acreage 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.

Further Reading

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