TOPICS IN THIS REPORT Field Crop Acreage June 1 Hogs and Pigs, 16 States and U.S. Pig Crop, Farrowing Intentions

FLORIDA: Hot, dry weather during May and June has damaged all dryland crops. Dryland cotton, peanuts, and soybeans may produce a crop if they get rain now. It is too late for rains to help dryland corn. Most of the irrigated crops are in good shape. Some growers with irrigation are not able to supply the water needed so their crops are showing stress.

CORN: Corn planted for all purposes totaled 160,000 acres, up 33 percent from last year. The acreage to be harvested for grain is estimated at 130,000 acres, up 63 percent from 1997. Corn planting started on time. The cool, wet weather in March and April delayed planting and slowed growth. Hot, dry weather in May and June has damaged the dryland corn. Some fields will produce little grain even if they receive rain.

ALL HAY: Acreage of all types of hay, cut and to be cut, is placed at 270,000 acres, up 17 percent from last year. The first cutting of hay has been made. The second cutting of hay has been delayed by lack of growth due to the hot, dry weather during May and June.

WINTER WHEAT: Area planted to winter wheat in the fall of 1997 is estimated at 15,000 acres, down 12 percent from a year earlier. Area harvested for grain in 1998 is estimated at 13,000 acres down 13 percent from the previous year. Harvest was completed by mid- June. This year's wheat crop had very good growing conditions. The winter growing season was wet and the spring harvest season was dry. Diseases were also less of a problem because of the weather.

COTTON: The total planted area is estimated at 90,000 acres, down 10 percent from last year. Cotton planting was delayed by cool, wet soil early and then in May and June by dry soil conditions. Cotton is being stressed by the hot, dry weather.

TOBACCO: Flue-cured, Type 14, acreage at 6,500 acres was down 11 percent from 1997. The cool weather during March and April slowed growth and development. The hot, dry weather has been very hard on the small acreage of dryland tobacco grown in Florida. Some growers are having stress problems with their irrigated tobacco because they are not able to put on all the water the plants need.

PEANUTS: Planted acreage of peanuts is estimated at 89,000 acres, down 3 percent from 1997. Of the planted acreage, 81,000 acres are expected to be harvested for dry nuts. The remaining 8,000 acres will be used for green peanuts and other purposes. All peanuts were planted by mid-June and forty-three percent were pegged by the end of June.

SUGARCANE: Total sugarcane acreage for sugar and seed during the 1998-99 crop season is estimated at 443,000 acres, up 3,000 acres from last season. Sugarcane has made good progress to date.

SOYBEANS: Acreage planted and to be planted to soybeans is estimated at 35,000 acres, down 12 percent from 1997. The area to be harvested for beans is expected to be 33,000 acres, down 13 percent from last year. The soybean crop is stressed because of the hot, dry weather.

FLORIDA CROP ACREAGE
Crop	Planted for all purposes		Harvested or to be harvested1/
	1997	1998	1997	19982/
	1,000 acres
All Corn	120.0	160.0	80.0	130.0
Soybeans	40.0	35.0	38.0	33.0
Peanuts	92.0	89.0	84.0	81.0
All Cotton	100.0	90.0	99.0	3/
All Hay	--	--	230.0	270.0
Sugarcane for Sugar and Seed	--	--	440.0	443.0
Tobacco	--	--	7.3	6.5
Winter Wheat	17.0	15.0	15.0	13.0
1/ Harvested for principal use of each crop, i.e., grain, beans, nuts, etc. 2/ Forecasted. 3/ Estimates to be released August 12, 1998.

CORN: Corn planted for all purposes is estimated at 80.8 million acres, up 1 percent from last year. This is the largest planted acreage since 1985. Growers expect to harvest 74.3 million acres for grain, up 1 percent from 1997. If realized, this will also be the largest harvested acreage since 1985. Ideal weather in the western Corn Belt helped planting finish 1 week ahead of the normal pace. The corn acreage estimate was based on survey information collected between May 29 and June 15. Farmers responding to the survey indicated that 99 percent of the intended corn acreage had been planted at the time of the interview compared to an average of 96 percent over the past ten years.

WINTER WHEAT: Area for grain is now estimated at 40.8 million acres, up somewhat from the June 1 forecast but 3 percent less than last year. Planted acres are 46.9 million acres also down 3 percent from last year but fractionally higher than the previously published level.

SOYBEANS: The 1998 planted area for soybeans is estimated at 72.7 million acres, 3 percent above last year's crop. Area for harvest is estimated at 71.7 million acres, up 3 percent from 1997. If realized, this will be the largest planted and harvested acreage on record. The last record was set in 1979.

PEANUTS: Acreage planted to peanuts in 1998 is estimated at 1.46 million acres, up 2 percent from 1997 plantings and 4 percent above 1996. Area for harvest is estimated at 1.44 million acres, up 2 percent from the 1997 level of 1.41 million acres. Southeast growers (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina) planted 847,000 acres, up 4 percent from last year and 2 percent above 1996. In Georgia, planting and field preparation was delayed by wet weather conditions in April. Dry weather allowed farmers to plant most of the crop during the last three weeks of May. Despite a slow start, Georgia peanuts are in mostly good condition. Alabama peanuts are rated in mostly fair condition. Planting of the Florida crop was delayed due to cool, wet conditions. In South Carolina, peanut planting was behind normal by the end of May.

COTTON: The United States planted area of all cotton for 1998 is estimated at 12.9 million acres, 6 percent below 1997 plantings, and 12 percent below 1996's area. Upland cotton is expected to total 12.6 million acres, down 7 percent from last year. Growers increased their plantings of American-Pima cotton to 313,500 acres, a 25 percent increase from last year's amount, and 22 percent higher than the acreage of 2 years ago. Texas increased Pima plantings by 73,000 acres, with a large amount of this in non-traditional growing counties. In the Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina), producers planted 2.81 million acres, down 4 percent from 1997, and down 2 percent from the 1996 level. Georgia's planting pace was behind average all season, and in early May their progress was 20 points behind normal. Alabama's seeding progress exceeded the normal pace during the season. Carolina producers were behind the average in early May, and South Carolina producers were about one-fourth behind the average planting pace. In mid-June all States except Georgia had completed plantings, and Georgia was 1 point below the 5-year average of 98 percent. Alabama's crop condition in late May showed 73 percent of the crop in fair to good condition and 27 percent in very poor to poor condition. In mid-June 80 percent was rated fair to good, 11 percent was very poor to poor, and 9 percent was in excellent condition. Georgia's crop condition deteriorated slightly, with 84 percent of the crop rated in fair, good and excellent condition in late May, and 82 percent was rated in these same categories in mid-June. Crop condition in the Carolina's was better than the other two States, and on June 14 both States showed 96 percent of the crop in fair or better condition.

HAY: Producers expect to harvest 59.8 million acres of hay in 1998, down 2 percent from the 60.8 million acres harvested the previous year. Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures are expected to total 23.4 million acres, down 1 percent from 1997. All other hay is estimated at 36.4 million acres, 2 percent below last year. With higher hay prices than normal and depleted hay stocks, the demand for hay remained high. Weather related problems have reduced the availability of hay land in many areas.

TOBACCO: The Nation's all tobacco for harvest in 1998 is estimated at 744,755 acres, down 8 percent from 1997. Flue- cured acreage, at 384,500 acres, is down 15 percent from a year ago. The wet, cool spring delayed transplanting and crop development in some areas. Recent hot and dry weather has stressed the crops in Florida and Georgia. Favorable soil moisture and wet conditions have farmers in North Carolina and Virginia optimistic for a good crop.

SUGARCANE FOR SUGAR AND SEED: Growers intend to harvest 936,000 acres of sugarcane for sugar and seed during the 1998 crop year. Harvested area in Louisiana is expected to increase by 10,000 acres as growers expand the use of a new high-yielding, high-sugar variety. Most layby procedures were completed, but rain is needed soon. The Florida crop is making good growth despite extremely dry conditions. Rain in January and February allowed newly seeded acres in Texas to make good early growth, but recent growth has slowed due to prolonged hot, dry weather.

UNITED STATES CROP ACREAGE
Crop	Planted for all purposes		Harvested or to be harvested1/
	1997	1998	1997	1998 2/
	1,000 acres
Corn	80,227.0	80,798.0	73,720.0	74,284.0
Sorghum	10,108.0	8,926.0	9,391.0	8,118.0
Oats	5,169.0	4,992.0	2,911.0	2,936.0
All wheat	70,989.0	65,799.0	63,577.0	59,241.0
Winter wheat	48,342.0	46,850.0	41,813.0	40,757.0
Soybeans	70,850.0	72,720.0	69,884.0	71,698.0
Peanuts	1,431.0	1,463.0	1,410.8	1,443.5
All cotton	13,808.0	12,933.5	13,270.0	3/
All hay	--	--	60,815.0	59,819.0
All tobacco	--	--	811.5	744.8
Sugarbeets	1,459.3	1,493.7	1,428.3	1,473.2
Sugarcane for sugar and seed	--	--	914.0	936.0
1/ Harvested for principal use of each crop, i.e., grain, beans, nuts, etc. 2/ Forecasted. 3/ Estimates to be released August 12, 1998.

HOGS AND PIGS: Inventory numbers, breeding, market, and total, June 1, 1997 and 1998
State	Breeding			Market			Total
	1997	1998	1998 As % of 1997	1997	1998	1998 As % of 1997	1997	1998	1998 As % of 1997
	1,000 head			1,000 head			1,000 head
	115	110	96	795	680	86	910	790	87
AR
GA	110	100	91	720	630	88	830	730	88
IL	560	580	104	3,940	4,370	111	4,500	4,950	110
IN	440	470	107	3,210	3,630	113	3,650	4,100	112
IA	1,340	1,300	97	11,360	13,300	117	12,700	14,600	115
KS	180	185	103	1,200	1,215	101	1,380	1,400	101
KY	75	65	87	525	455	87	600	520	87
MI	150	130	87	950	1,000	105	1,100	1,130	103
MN	610	630	103	4,590	4,970	108	5,200	5,600	108
MO	455	410	90	3,095	2,890	93	3,550	3,300	93
NE	450	440	98	3,250	3,110	96	3,700	3,550	96
NC	1,050	1,100	105	8,750	8,700	99	9,800	9,800	100
OH	210	210	100	1,390	1,470	106	1,600	1,680	105
OK	210	260	124	1,290	1,610	125	1,500	1,870	125
PA	115	115	100	875	885	101	990	1,000	101
SD	165	140	85	1,025	1,160	113	1,190	1,300	109
WI	115	100	87	695	620	89	810	720	89
Oth Sts 1/	610	673	110	3,643	3,887	107	4,253	4,560	107
US	6,960	7,018	101	51,303	54,582	106	58,263	61,600	106
1/ Individual State estimates not available for the 33 other States.

MARKET HOGS AND PIGS: Inventory number by weight groups, June 1, 1997 and 1998
State	Under 60 lbs		60-119 lbs		120-179 lbs		180 lbs and over
	1997	1998	1997	1998	1997	1998	1997	1998
	1,000 head
AR	250	250	190	165	205	145	150	120
GA	280	240	190	175	155	130	95	85
IL	1,580	1,750	980	1,070	790	880	590	670
IN	1,220	1,330	780	980	640	730	570	590
IA	4,350	4,550	3,130	3,600	2,200	2,900	1,680	2,250
KS	495	495	290	270	235	230	180	220
KY	210	185	130	110	105	90	80	70
MI	430	450	200	220	190	190	130	140
MN	1,780	1,950	1,160	1,280	950	1,030	700	710
MO	1,450	1,450	680	590	565	510	400	340
NE	1,350	1,270	830	820	590	580	480	440
NC	3,400	3,450	2,170	2,100	1,830	1,750	1,350	1,400
OH	640	660	340	350	260	290	150	170
OK	470	610	210	300	200	220	410	480
PA	320	330	220	240	180	175	155	140
SD	430	440	255	285	180	240	160	195
WI	290	245	170	160	125	120	110	95
Oth Sts 1/	1,392	1,615	852	832	727	780	671	660
US	20,337	21,270	12,777	13,547	10,127	10,990	8,061	8,775
1/ Individual State estimates not available for the 33 other States.

INVENTORY of all hogs and pigs on June 1, 1998, was 61.6 million head. This was 6 percent above June 1997 and 3 percent above the March 1, 1998 inventory.

    Breeding inventory, at 7.02 million head, was up 1 percent from June 1, 1997, and up slightly from March 1, 1998. Market hog inventory, at 54.6 million head, was 6 percent above last year and 3 percent above last quarter.

    The March-May 1998 U.S. pig crop at 26.7 million head, was 5 percent more than 1997 but 7 percent more than 1996. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 3.06 million head, 4 percent above last year. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 44 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs per litter continues to increase, with an average of 8.74 pigs saved per litter for the March-May period. Last year the litter rate averaged 8.65 pigs. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.30 for operations with 1-99 hogs to 8.90 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

    U.S. hog producers intend to have 3.03 million sows farrow during the June-August 1998 quarter, 3 percent above the actual farrowings during the same period in 1997 and 10 percent above 1996. Intended farrowings for September- November 1998, at 3.04 million sows, are 4 percent above the same period last year and 12 percent above 1996.

    The total number of hogs under contract, owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 27 percent of the total U.S. hog inventory.

HOGS AND PIGS:	U.S. inventory number, sows farrowing and pig crop, 1997 and 1998.
	1997	1998	1998 as % of 1997
	1,000 head
June 1 Inventory
All hogs and pigs	58,263	61,600	108
Kept for breeding	6,970	7,018	101
Market	51,303	54,582	106
Market hogs and pigs by weight groups:
Under 60 pounds	20,337	21,270	105
60-119 pounds	12,777	13,547	106
120-179 pounds	10,127	10,990	109
180 pounds	8,061	8,775	109
Sows farrowing:
December1/-February	2,702	2,898	107
March-May	2,944	3,055	104
December1/-May	5,646	5,953	105
June-August2/	2,959	3,034	103
September-November 2/	2,929	3,036	104
June-November2/	5,888	6,070	103
Pig crop:
December1/-February	23,264	25,164	108
March-May	25,471	26,714	105
December1/-May	48,735	51,878	106
June-August	25,796
September-November	25,315
June-November	51,111
1/ December preceding year. 2/ Intentions for 1998.