August 12, 2009

Missouri Corn and Soybean Acreage Unchanged From June

(COLUMBIA, MO) - "Another wet spring, similar to a year ago, led to row crops being planted nearly two weeks late. Some corn acres were replanted and some were switched to other crops. However, a re-interview of Missouri farmers showed that planted acreages of the major crops didn’t change from our June estimates.” said Gene Danekas, Director, USDA-Missouri Agricultural Statistics. "Crop progress this year has also been slowed by a near record cool July with temperatures 4 to 5 degrees below normal across the state.”

Missouri corn plantings are estimated at 3.10 million acres, 11 percent above last year but unchanged from the June 1 estimate. Corn acres for harvest for grain are forecast at 3.00 million acres, up 13 percent from 2008 and also unchanged from the June estimate. Based on conditions as of August 1, yield per harvested acre is forecast at 146 bushels, up 2 bushels from last year and 7 bushels above the 5-year average. Production is forecast at 438 million bushels. If realized, this production would be 15 percent above a year ago and the third largest corn crop on record.

Soybean planted acreage in Missouri is estimated at 5.40 million acres, 4 percent above 2008 and unchanged from the June 1 estimate. This is the largest planted acreage since 1999. Harvested acres are expected to total 5.35 million acres, 6 percent above last year and unchanged from the estimate on June 1. Yield is forecast at 40 bushels per acre, up 2 bushels per acre from 2008 and second only to the 45 bushels per acre in 2004. Production is forecast at 214 million bushels, 12 percent above 2008 and the second largest soybean crop on record, behind only the 223 million bushels harvested in 2004.

Missouri winter wheat producers harvested 720,000 acres of the 800,000 acres planted last fall. Harvested acreage is down 38 percent from the previous year and 18 percent below 2007. Yield per harvested acre is forecast at 49 bushels, 1 bushel per acre more than a year earlier and 6 bushels per acre above 2007. Production is forecast at 35.3 million bushels, 37 percent below last year and 7 percent below 2007.

The total area of all hay to be harvested in Missouri is forecast at 3.88 million acres, 8 percent below last year and 4 percent below 2007. Harvested acres of alfalfa are forecast at 330,000 acres which are expected to produce 1.22 million tons with a yield of 3.70 tons per acre. Other hay harvested acres are forecast at 3.55 million acres. Production of other hay is forecast at 7.46 million tons from a record yield of 2.10 tons per acre. Cotton planted acres in Missouri are estimated at 305,000 acres, virtually unchanged from last year and the lowest level since 1990. Producers expect to harvest 285,000 acres. A yield of 1,061 pounds per acre is forecast, the second highest yield on record behind 2008. The resulting 630,000 480-pound bales would be 10 percent below last year and the lowest production since 2002. Planted acres of Missouri rice are estimated at 195,000 acres, 2 percent below 2008. Harvested acres are forecast at 194,000 acres, 3 percent below last year. A yield of 6,800 pounds per acre is forecast, 180 pounds per acre above last year and tied with 2004 for the second highest yield on record. If realized, this would result in a production of 13.2 million hundredweight, virtually unchanged from a year earlier.

Planted acres of sorghum in Missouri are estimated at 60,000 acres, 67 percent of last year and the lowest sorghum planted acres on record. Sorghum acres to be harvested for grain are forecast at 55,000 acres, down 31 percent from last year. A yield of 86 bushels per acre is expected which would result in a production of 4.73 million bushels, 39 percent below 2008.

United States Crops

United States corn production is forecast at 12.8 billion bushels, up 5 percent from last year but 2 percent lower than 2007. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 159.5 bushels per acre, up 5.6 bushels from last year. If realized, this will be the second highest yield on record, behind 2004, and production will be the second largest, behind 2007.

Soybean production in the U.S. is forecast at a record high 3.20 billion bushels, up 8 percent from last year. Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 41.7 bushels per acre, up 2.1 bushels from 2008. If realized, this will tie for the fourth highest yield on record.

U.S. Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.54 billion bushels, up 1 percent from last month but down 18 percent from 2008. The U.S. yield is forecast at 44.2 bushels per acre, up 0.4 bushel from last month but down 3.0 bushels from last year. The area expected to be harvested for grain totals 34.8 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 12 percent from last year.

U.S. rice production is forecast at 211 million cwt, up 4 percent from 2008 and 6 percent higher than the total produced in 2007. Area for harvest is expected to total 3.00 million acres, unchanged from June, but up 1 percent from last year. Rice planted area at 3.02 million acres is also unchanged from the June estimate. The U.S. yield is forecast at 7,039 pounds per acre, up 193 pounds from 2008. If realized, this would be the second highest U.S. yield on record. U.S. upland cotton production is forecast at 12.8 million 480-pound bales, 4 percent above 2008. U.S. sorghum production is forecast at 381 million bushels, down 19 percent from last year. Expected area for harvest as grain is forecast at 5.95 million acres, down 18 percent from 2008. Based on August 1 conditions, yield is forecast at 64.0 bushels per acre, down 1.0 bushel from last year.