Major Cut in U.S. Canola Plantings

WASHINGTON - Jun 30/09 - SNS -- Canola producers planted 847,000 acres in 2009, down 16% from 2008, according to the USDA's preliminary seeded estimates for the year.

Planted area decreased from last year in Minnesota and North Dakota but increased slightly in Montana. Producers in North Dakota, the leading canola State, planted 740,000 acres, down 170,000 acres from last year.

Planting began in North Dakota during the first week of May, as cool, wet weather caused planting delays. As of May 3, only one% of the intended canola acreage had been planted, well behind the 5-year average of 27%.

By May 31, only 69% had been planted, still 25 points behind normal. In turn, emergence of the crop in North Dakota was behind normal, with only 69% of the crop emerged by June 14, compared with the 5-year average of 96%. The harvested area forecast for the Nation is down 17% from last year.

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