U.S. Soybean Area May Dip 2%

WASHINGTON - Mar 31/05 - SNS -- Growers in the United States intend to plant an estimated 73.9 million acres in 2005, down 2% from the record acreage planted in 2004, according to this year's seeding intentions estimates from the USDA.

Growers in 16 of the 31 soybean producing States intend to plant fewer acres this year, while producers in 11 States intend to plant more acres than in 2004. Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, and West Virginia are unchanged from last year.

The largest intended decrease in soybean acreage is in the Dakotas, where low soybean prices have some farmers shifting to other crops. Producers in the Delta and Southeast States are more concerned with Asian soybean rust than in other parts of the country.

The expected rise in soybean production costs to combat the disease are persuading some farmers in those regions to find alternatives. Acreage planted to soybeans in Louisiana is expected to decrease 23%, partially due to the risks of Asian soybean rust.

Producers in the eleven major soybean growing States (Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Ohio) intend to plant 60.4 million acres, down 1% from last year. Illinois and Indiana farmers intend to plant 250,000 and 150,000 fewer soybean acres, respectively. Planted acreage is expected to increase from last year in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Ohio.

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