GRAIN STOCKS - MARCH 1, 2005

Columbia, S.C., March 31, 2005: SOYBEAN stocks stored in off-farm facilities in SOUTH

CAROLINA on March 1, 2005 totaled 4.66 million bushels, compared to 5.61 million bushels stored March 1, 2004, according to the USDA NASS South Carolina Statistical Office. CORN stocks stored in off-farm facilities totaled 2.63 million bushels, compared to 2.07 million bushels stored off-farm on March 1, 2004. WHEAT stocks stored in off-farm facilities totaled 781 thousand bushels on March 1, 2005, compared to 534 thousand bushels on March 1, 2004.

CORN stocks in all positions in the UNITED STATES 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. Of the total stocks, 4.14 billion bushels are stored on farms, up 37 percent from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 2.62 billion bushels, are up 17 percent from a year ago.

SOYBEANS stored in all positions totaled 1.38 billion bushels, up 52 percent from March 1, 2004. Soybean stocks stored on farms are estimated at 795 million bushels, up 123 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 586 million bushels, are up 7 percent from last March.

ALL WHEAT stored in all positions on totaled 981 million bushels, down 4 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks are estimated at 305 million bushels, up 18 percent from last year. Off-farm stocks, at 676 million bushels, are down 11 percent from a year ago.

For additional information call: Robert A. Graham, State Director

                                                       Jim Johnson, Agricultural Statistician