PROSPECTIVE PLANTING & GRAIN STOCKS

KANSAS AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE

Kansas Department of Agriculture

PO Box 3534

Topeka, KS 66601-3534

Phone: 785-233-2230

Special Press Release: March 31, 2006

PROSPECTIVE PLANTINGS

Kansas growers expect to plant 19.6 million acres to the four major crops (wheat, sorghum, corn, and soybeans), up 2 percent from 2005. Wheat seeded in the fall of 2005 totaled 10.2 million acres, unchanged from the December forecast but up 2 percent from the previous year.

Sorghum acreage expected to be planted, at 2.80 million acres, is up 2 percent from a year ago. Corn planting intentions totaled 3.35 million, down 8 percent from the 2005 acreage. Soybean planted acreage is expected to be 3.20 million acres, up 10 percent from last year and , if realized, a new record high. Oat seedings are expected to be up 10 percent from 2005 at 110,000 acres. Barley seedings, at 20,000 acres, are up from the 19,000 acres planted in 2005.

Sunflower acreage to be planted, at 195,000 acres, is down 35 percent from last year. Oil-type varieties account for 180,000 of the sunflower acreage while non-oil, or confectionary, varieties make up the balance of 15,000 acres. Dry beans, at 14,000 acres, are up 1,000 acres from the previous year. All hay for harvest, at 2.90 million acres, is unchanged from 2005. Cotton is expected to be planted on 100,000 acres, up 26,000 acres from last year, also a new record, if realized.

GRAIN STOCKS

Kansas wheat stocks in all positions totaled 122.3 million bushels on March 1, down 40 percent from December 2005 and 3 percent less than last March. Wheat stored in off-farm locations (mills, elevators, warehouses, and processors) totaled 115.8 million bushels and accounted for 95 percent of the total. On-farm stocks totaled 6.5 million bushels, compared with 11.0 million bushels last March.

Sorghum grain in all positions totaled 97.6 million bushels, down 41 percent from December 2005 and 16 percent below a year ago. Off-farm stocks totaled 83.6 million bushels and on-farm stocks totaled 14.0 million bushels.

Kansas corn stocks in all locations, at 239.4 million bushels, were down 31 percent from December but 16 percent above last March. Off-farm stocks, at 156.4 million bushels, accounted for 65 percent of the total corn stocks. On-farm stocks, at 83.0 million bushels, were up 28 percent from the 2005 March stocks.

Kansas soybeans in all locations totaled 59.5 million bushels, down 35 percent from December but 26 percent above the March 2005 level. Off-farm stocks, at 39.5 million bushels, were up 22 percent from last year and accounted for 66 percent of the total soybean stocks. On-farm stocks, at 20.0 million bushels, were up from 15.0 million last year.