Modest Increase in Corn Plantings

WASHINGTON - Jun 30/09 - SNS -- Farmers in the United States increased corn area 1% over last year to 87.0 million acres, according to the USDA's preliminary seeded estimates for the year.

This is the second largest planted acreage since 1946, behind 2007. Growers expect to harvest 80.1 million acres for grain, up 2% from last year. Farmers responding to the survey indicated that 97% of the intended corn acreage had been planted at the time of the interview compared with the 10-year average of 98%.

Producers in the 10 major corn-producing States (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) planted 67.9 million acres of corn in 2009, up 3% from last year. The largest increase was recorded in Nebraska where growers planted 600,000 more acres of corn than last year. Other notable increases were shown in Iowa, up 400,000 acres; Missouri, up 300,000 acres; and South Dakota, up 250,000 acres from a year ago. The largest decline occurred in North Dakota where corn planted acreage is down 650,000 acres.

Planting got off to a slow start in 2009, similar to last year, as cool, wet spring weather delayed fieldwork and planting activities in many areas. By late April, warmer weather in the Mississippi Valley and western Corn Belt helped accelerate fieldwork; however, planting was limited across much of the Midwest due to cool, soggy soils.

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