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PROSPECTIVE PLANTINGS AND GRAIN STOCKS

KANSAS AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE
Kansas Department of Agriculture
PO Box 3534
Topeka, KS 66601-3534
Phone: 785-233-2230

PRESS RELEASE

Released: March 31, 2003


PROSPECTIVE PLANTINGS

Kansas growers expect to plant 19.5 million acres to the four major crops (wheat, sorghum, corn, and soybeans), up less than 1 percent from 2002. Wheat seeded in the fall of 2002 totaled 10.3 million acres, unchanged from the December forecast but up 7 percent from the previous year. This is the first time since 1999 that 10 million or more acres have been seeded to wheat in Kansas and the largest acreage since 1998 when 10.7 million acres were seeded.

Sorghum acreage expected to be planted, at 3.70 million acres, is down 3 percent from a year ago but still the third largest acreage since 1996. Corn planting intentions totaled 3.0 million, down 8 percent from the 2002 acreage and the lowest acreage planted to corn since 1998. Soybean planted acreage is expected to be 2.5 million acres, down 9 percent from last year. Oat seedings are expected to be up 7 percent from 2002 at 150,000 acres. Barley seedings, at 9,000 acres, are up from the 8,000 acres planted in 2002.

Sunflower acreage to be planted, at 210,000 acres, is down 2 percent from last year. Dry beans, at 14,000 acres, are down 4,000 acres from the previous year. All hay for harvest, at 3.3 million acres, is up 50,000 acres from 2002. Cotton is expected to be planted on 110,000 acres, up 30,000 acres from last year.


GRAIN STOCKS

Kansas wheat stocks in all positions totaled 129.8 million bushels on March 1, down 31 percent from December 2002 and 36 percent less than last March. Wheat stored in off-farm locations (mills, elevators, warehouses, and processors) totaled 116.8 million bushels and accounted for 90 percent of the total. On-farm stocks totaled 13.0 million bushels, compared with 19.0 million bushels last March.

Sorghum grain in all positions totaled 85.9 million bushels, down 26 percent from December 2002 and 19 percent below a year ago. Off-farm stocks accounted for 69.9 million bushels and on-farm stocks 16.0 million bushels.

Kansas corn stocks in all locations, at 153.5 million bushels, were down 31 percent from December and 17 percent below last March's stocks. Off-farm stocks were 103.5 million bushels, which accounted for 67 percent of the total corn stocks. On-farm stocks, at 50.0 million bushels, were down 7 percent from the 2002 March stocks.


Kansas soybeans in all locations totaled 34.0 million bushels, down 38 percent from December and 18 percent below the 2002 March stocks. Off-farm stocks, at 23.05 million bushels, were down 24 percent from last year and accounted for 68 percent of the total soybean stocks. On-farm stocks, at 11.0 million bushels, were unchanged from last year.

Off-farm oat stocks totaled 730,000 bushels, down 20 percent from December but 5 percent above March 2002.

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