American farmers planted one million fewer acres of corn in 2018 than they did the previous year, a one percent decrease, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Acreage report released today. The report indicates a 1.1 million-acre net increase from the prospective planting report released in March. Total corn acres planted in the United States total 89.1 million.
“This report reaffirms the importance of programs and policy that grow markets for U.S. corn and support the family farms where it is grown,” National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Skunes said. “First, U.S. farmers need robust ethanol policy and trade agreements that open markets.
“We must simultaneously continue to work toward farm policies that support America’s farm families and maintain our nation’s agricultural independence when conditions do not meet expectations. Working together, we can make increases in market demand and passage of farm policy add up to a real, necessary boost for farm families.”
Given the projected harvested corn acreage released in the report of 81.7 million acres and the most recent USDA estimated average national yield of 174.0 bushels per acre, farmers could harvest the third-largest crop on record at 14.227 billion bushels.
The largest year-to-year acreage increases were seen in Nebraska and Ohio, where corn acreage increased by 150,000 acres in each state. Conversely, farmers in South Dakota reduced acres year-over-year by 500,000, with Indiana and Minnesota both showing 250,000-acre year-over-year reductions as well.
For the full Acreage report, click here.
COVID-19 Resources
NCGA is taking a series of actions to do our part to help contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the economic fallout it is creating for corn farmers and our customers. Short term, this means instituting policies to protect the health and safety of our stakeholders and the broader communities we serve. Long term, we’re focused on creating solutions to help corn farmers and our customers recover from the financial impacts of this crisis.
CommonGround
CommonGround is a group of farmers connecting with consumers through conversations about science and research and personal stories about food and misinformation surrounding farming. Supported by the NCGA and state corn organizations.
SHP
The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) is a farmer-led initiative that fosters transformation in agriculture through improved soil health. Administered by NCGA the partnership has more than 220 working farms enrolled in 16 states. SHP’s mission is to utilize science and data to partner with farmers who are adopting conservation agricultural practices that improve the economic and environmental sustainability of the farm.
