Barley Area Up, Oats and Sorghum Down

WASHINGTON - Mar 31/03 - SNS -- Little change in total coarse grain plantings is expected in the United States this spring, with declines in sorghum and oat area offset by gains in barley, according to the USDA's seeding intentions report.

Oats acres seeded and to be seeded for the 2003 crop year are expected to total 4.83 million, down 4% from last year's planted area. Growers expect to harvest 2.20 million acres for grain, 5% more than the 2002 harvested acreage of 2.10 million. Acres for grain are up in the central and northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain States.

Barley growers intend to seed 5.38 million acres for 2003, up 6% from a year ago. The intended acreage in North Dakota is up 400,000 acres from last year. Montana's barley acreage is expected to be unchanged from last year with producers experiencing an ongoing drought.

Fewer acres are expected in the Pacific Northwest States where dry conditions and concerns over water availability exist in some areas. Washington State's intended acreage is down 11%, the lowest since 1995, while Oregon expects its lowest planted area on record.

The 2003 intended sorghum acreage planted for all purposes is estimated at 9.45 million acres, down 1% from last year. The largest acreage declines are expected by growers in Kansas and Texas. Kansas producers intend to plant 3.70 million acres, 3% less than last year.

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