USDA
Estimates Corn Plantings at 81 Million Acres
(6-30-04)
Despite heavy
rains in May across portions of the Corn Belt, producers may still
be on target to generate a record corn crop, according to estimates
released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
USDA’s
acreage report estimates corn planted for all purposes at 81 million
acres, up 3 percent from 2003 and a 1.96 million acre increase from
the agency’s March projections. Growers are expected to harvest
73.4 million acres of corn for grain, also up 3 percent from 2003.
Above-normal
temperatures and light rainfall in April and early May allowed planting
to progress at a record pace, but planting slowed in mid-May as
heavy rains fell in areas of the Corn Belt. Growers in Michigan,
Ohio and Wisconsin experienced the most rainfall that prevented
them from planting some of their acres originally intended for corn.
Farmers reported 98 percent of intended corn acreage had been planted,
1 percentage point higher than the 10-year average.
Corn growers
in the top seven corn-producing states – Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin – planted 52.8
million acres, an increase of 2 percent from last year. Illinois
and Minnesota showed the largest increases in planted acreage, as
favorable weather allowed producers to switch to corn from other
crops. Farmers in Indiana and Ohio reported decreases in intended
corn acreage due to persistent wet weather in May.
The rapid planting
progress and warm conditions across much of the Corn Belt spurred
emergence. By mid-May, 63 percent of the crop had emerged, compared
to just 37 percent last year. Silking is also ahead of normal, according
to USDA’s June 29 crop progress report. Silking is 9 percent
complete, 5 percentage points ahead of last year and the 5-year
average.
The USDA report
also notes that producers planted 45 percent of their corn acreage
with biotech varieties, up 5 percentage points from 2003. Varieties
containing bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) were planted on 27 percent
of acreage.
To view the
complete acreage report, click
here.