ne-agri-facts NEBRASKA AGRI-FACTS Issue 07/2005 Released: 04/05/2005 by USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service Mark Harris, Director Dean C. Groskurth, Deputy Director ------------------------------------------------------------------------ P.O Box 81069 Location: 298 Federal Bldg Lincoln, NE 68501 Phone: (402) 437-5541 e-mail: nass-ne@nass.usda.gov Internet: http://www.nass.usda.gov/ne/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Producers and Data Users: Information contained herein is the result of mail, phone and personal interview surveys conducted during the past few weeks. Special recognition and appreciation are extended to all producers and agribusinesses who provided data making these reports possible. Mark Harris Director For the PDF version of this report, go to the following address: http://www.nass.usda.gov/ne/agrifact/agf0507.pdf ------------------------------------------------------------------------ March Prospective Plantings As of March 1, Nebraska producers expect to increase acreage devoted to corn, hay, dry edible beans, oats, and sunflowers, decrease acreage planted to winter wheat (sown last fall), sorghum, and sugar beets, while leaving soybean acreage unchanged from a year ago. Nebraska corn growers expect to plant 8.4 million acres in 2005, up 2 percent from last year and up 4 percent from two years ago. Expected plantings of soybeans, at 4.8 million acres, would be unchanged from last year. This would tie for second highest on record, behind only the 4.95 million acres planted in 2001. Last fall, winter wheat was sown on 1.8 million acres, down 3 percent from a year earlier and down 5 percent from two years ago. Sorghum growers expect to plant 390,000 acres, 29 percent less than 2004 and 41 percent less than 2003. Hay acreage for harvest, at 2.85 million, would be up 2 percent from last year. Dry edible bean producers intend to plant 160,000 acres, up 33 percent from a year earlier. Oat planting intentions, at 150,000 acres, are up 7 percent from 2004. Sunflower planting intentions, at 95,000 acres, are up 70 percent while sugar beet plantings of 49,000 acres would be down 2 percent from a year ago. Crop Summary: Acres Planted, Nebraska and United States, 2003-2005 .........Nebraska......... ........United States........ Inten- Inten- Crop tions 2005/ tions 2005/ 2003 2004 2005 1/ 2004 2003 2004 2005 1/ 2004 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,000 Acres Percent 1,000 Acres Percent Corn 8,100 8,250 8,400 102 78,603 80,930 81,413 101 Soybeans 4,550 4,800 4,800 100 73,404 75,208 73,910 98 Sorghum 660 550 390 71 9,420 7,486 7,400 99 Oats 220 140 150 107 4,597 4,085 4,267 104 Barley 6 6 3/ 5,348 4,527 3,974 88 Dry Beans 155 120 160 133 1,406.1 1,354.3 1,663.5 123 Sugar Beets 45.3 49.8 49.0 98 1,365.4 1,346.0 1,299.0 97 All Hay 2/ 3,150 2,800 2,850 102 63,383 61,916 62,940 102 All Wheat 1,900 1,850 1,800 97 62,141 59,674 58,592 98 Winter Wheat 1,900 1,850 1,800 97 45,384 43,350 41,613 96 Sunflower-Oil 51 36 55 153 1,998 1,533 2,185 143 -Non-oil 15 20 40 200 346 340 565 166 -All 66 56 95 170 2,344 1,873 2,750 147 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Intended plantings as indicated by reports from farmers. 2/ Intended acres for harvest as indicated by reports from farmers. 3/ Estimates discontinued in 2005. Source: USDA NASS Prospective Plantings, March 31, 2005. Grain Stocks Nebraska corn stocks in all positions on March 1, 2005, totaled 821 million bushels, up 27 percent from March 1, 2004. Soybeans stored in all positions totaled 109 million bushels, up 37 percent from last year. Wheat stored in all positions on March 1, 2005, totaled 31 million bushels, down 27 percent from a year ago. U.S. corn stocks in all positions on March 1, 2005, totaled 6.75 billion bushels, up 28 percent from March 1, 2004. This is the highest March 1 stocks level since 1988. Soybeans stored in all positions totaled 1.38 billion bushels, up 52 percent from 2004. All wheat stored in all positions on March 1, 2005, totaled 981 million bushels, down 4 percent from a year ago. Grain Stocks: By Commodity, Nebraska and United States, 2003-2005 Grain Nebraska United States and Mar 1, Mar 1, Mar 1, 2005/ Mar 1, Mar 1, Mar 1, 2005/ Position 2003 2004 2005 2004 2003 2004 2005 2004 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thousand Bushels Percent Thousand Bushels Percent Corn On Farms 325,000 380,000 520,000 137 2,940,000 3,030,000 4,137,000 137 Off Farms 1/ 270,547 268,219 301,122 112 2,191,873 2,241,459 2,616,738 117 Total 595,547 648,219 821,122 127 5,131,873 5,271,459 6,753,738 128 All Wheat On Farms 4,500 7,000 3,400 49 236,300 257,890 304,710 118 Off Farms 1/ 31,015 34,742 27,134 78 670,333 762,727 676,304 89 Total 35,515 41,742 30,534 73 906,633 1,020,617 981,014 96 Soybeans On Farms 31,000 21,000 55,000 262 636,500 355,900 795,000 223 Off Farms 1/ 46,202 58,047 53,634 92 565,528 549,947 585,974 107 Total 77,202 79,047 108,634 137 1,202,028 905,847 1,380,974 152 Sorghum On Farms 4,000 3,400 4,700 138 27,500 21,000 33,400 159 Off Farms 1/ 14,502 15,720 13,791 88 135,423 137,652 169,989 123 Total 18,502 19,120 18,491 97 162,923 158,652 203,389 128 Oats On Farms 900 1,500 1,100 73 35,000 45,600 43,500 95 Off Farms 1/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 47,879 49,414 39,026 79 Total 2/ 2/ 2/ 82,879 95,014 82,526 87 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes stocks at mills, elevators, warehouses, terminals, and processors. 2/ Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations. Source: USDA NASS Grain Stocks, March 31, 2005. Soybeans: Asian Rust Awareness by Selected States and United States, Percent of All Farms and Farms Reporting Soybean Intentions, March 2005 Have you seen, read, or heard any information about Asian Rust? State All Farms Farms Reporting Soybean Intentions Yes No Don't Yes No Don't Know Know -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Iowa 87 6 7 94 2 4 Kansas 61 32 7 89 8 3 Missouri 62 31 7 93 6 1 Nebraska 86 13 1 96 3 1 South Dakota 76 20 4 95 5 United States 43 51 6 89 8 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Data rounds to less than 0.5 percent. Source: USDA NASS Prospective Plantings, March 31, 2005. Soybeans: Asian Rust Impact on Planting Intentions for All Farm Operators who are Aware of Rust by Selected States and United States, March 2005 Was Asian Rust a factor in your planning intentions? State If so, how did your intentions change? Yes Increase Decrease No Change --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Percent Percent Percent Percent Iowa 8 10 49 41 Kansas 5 4 56 40 Missouri 5 8 28 64 Nebraska 8 17 43 40 South Dakota 8 5 71 24 United States 6 7 53 40 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: USDA NASS Prospective Plantings, March 31, 2005. Hogs and Pigs Nebraska inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2005, was 2.75 million head. This was 4 percent below March 1, 2004 and December 1, 2004, and the lowest inventory since March 1, 1976. Breeding inventory, at 355,000 head, was down 1 percent from March 1, 2004, but unchanged from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 2.4 million head, was 4 percent below last year and last quarter. Inventory of all hogs and pigs in the United States was 59.9 million head on March 1, 2005. This was up 1 percent from last year, but down 1 percent from December 1, 2004. Breeding inventory, at 5.94 million head, was down slightly from March 1, 2004 and last quarter. Market hog inventory , at 54.0 million head, was up 1 percent from last year but down 1 percent from last quarter. Hogs and Pigs: March 1 Inventory, Sows Farrowing and Pig Crop, Nebraska and United States 2004-2005 Nebraska United States Item 2004 2005 2005/2004 2004 2005 2005/2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,000 Head Percent 1,000 Head Percent March 1 Inventory All hogs and pigs 2,850 2,750 96 59,520 59,899 101 Breeding 360 355 99 5,961 5,941 100 Market 2,490 2,395 96 53,558 53,957 101 Market Hogs & Pigs Under 60 pounds 980 970 99 19,823 19,817 100 60-119 pounds 640 600 94 12,954 13,087 101 120-179 pounds 470 470 100 11,205 11,430 102 180 pounds and over 400 355 89 9,578 9,624 100 Sows Farrowing December-February 1/ 175 175 100 2,836 2,851 101 March-May 175 175 2/ 100 2,870 2,870 2/ 100 June-August 175 175 2/ 100 2,905 2,880 2/ 99 September-November 170 2,852 Total Sows Farrowing 3/ 695 11,462 Pig Crop December-February 1/ 1,558 1,575 101 25,105 25,489 102 March-May 1,558 25,633 June-August 1,558 26,162 September-November 1,530 25,558 Total Pig Crop 3/ 6,204 102,457 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ December preceding year. 2/ Intentions. 3/ May not add due to rounding. Source: USDA NASS Quarterly Hog and Pigs, March 24, 2005. Prices Received: By Commodity, Nebraska and United States, Preliminary March 2005 with Comparisons Nebraska United States Commodity Unit Mar Feb Mar 15, Mar Mar Mar 15 % of Parity '04 1/ '05 1/ '05 '04 1/ '05 1/ '05 Parity Price 2/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ...............Dollars..................... % Dollars All wheat Bushels 3.63 3.20 3.35 3.83 3.36 3.53 35 10.00 Corn Bushels 2.62 1.89 2.00 2.75 1.95 2.03 30 6.71 Oats Bushels 1.64 1.70 1.60 1.60 1.66 1.60 40 3.99 Grain Sorghum Cwt. 4.82 2.87 3.15 4.84 2.95 3.17 29 11.00 Soybeans Bushels 9.15 5.29 6.10 9.28 5.42 6.28 39 16.20 Hay, All, Baled Ton 50.00 51.00 50.00 81.80 84.70 89.10 Alfalfa, Baled Ton 51.00 51.00 50.00 86.20 91.90 96.40 Other, Baled Ton 45.00 48.00 48.00 72.00 70.00 70.40 Dry Edible Beans Cwt. 16.60 24.50 24.10 20.20 27.80 27.40 54 50.90 Hogs Cwt. 48.10 52.20 52.20 47.20 50.70 51.50 48 108.00 Barrows & Gilts Cwt. 48.20 52.40 52.40 47.60 51.00 51.80 Sows Cwt. 42.10 43.60 42.00 39.90 45.00 43.80 Beef Cattle Cwt. 87.60 93.00 97.40 83.70 89.00 91.90 53 174.00 Steers & Heifers Cwt. 88.80 94.20 98.70 88.00 93.30 96.30 Cows Cwt. 49.10 55.60 55.60 46.50 52.40 53.60 Calves Cwt. 123.00 137.00 135.00 115.00 128.00 132.00 56 236.00 Sheep Cwt. 35.10 48.40 36.70 51.30 85.10 Lambs Cwt. 111.00 109.00 103.00 114.00 211.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Entire month average except hay. 2/ Parity price based on data for March 2005. Source: USDA NASS Agricultural Prices, March 30, 2005. Commercial Livestock Slaughter February 2005 number slaughtered and changes from last year and last month are shown below. February 2004 contained 20 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays. February 2005 contained 20 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays. Livestock Slaughter: By Commodity, Nebraska and United States, February 2005 with Comparisons Feb 2005 Percent of Item Total 1/ Feb Jan 2004 2005 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Nebraska 1,000 Head Cattle, head 500.5 103 90 Hogs, head 560.8 109 97 Red Meat, mil. lbs. 511.6 106 91 United States Cattle, head 2,341.2 96 93 Calves, head 61.9 87 91 Hogs, head 8,103.8 103 96 Sheep & Lambs, head 215.0 101 103 Red Meat, mil, lbs. 3,423.0 101 94 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Excludes animals slaughtered on farms. Source: USDA NASS Livestock Slaughter, March 24, 2005. Stocks in Cold Storage: By Commodity, United States, February 2005 with Comparisons Feb 2005 Percent of Commodity Stocks Feb 2004 Jan 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,000 Lbs Total red meats 959,419 104 99 Beef 403,815 93 88 Pork 544,521 114 109 Poultry 1,016,902 100 103 Turkey 386,434 82 115 Chicken 629,993 116 97 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: USDA NASS Cold Storage, March 22, 2005. Poultry: Layers and Eggs, Nebraska and United States, February 2005 with Comparisons Item 2004 2005 2005/2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Millions Percent Number of Layers Nebraska 11.8 12.1 102 United States 339.6 349.0 103 Table Eggs Produced Nebraska 254 244 96 United States 5,895 5,895 100 Chickens Hatched, February United States Egg-type 32.1 32.9 103 Broiler 727.9 731.3 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: USDA NASS Chicken and Eggs, March 22, 2005. 2004 Cropland Data Layer Available The Cropland Data Layer for Nebraska depicting distribution of 2004 crops is now available on CD Rom. Order it at http://www.nass.usda.gov/research/Cropland/SARS1a.htm or call 1-800-727-9540.