FARMERS INTEND TO PLANT MORE CORN, COTTON

AND PEANUTS, BUT LESS SOYBEANS AND TOBACCO

Columbia, S.C., March 31, 2005: The March Prospective Plantings Survey, recently completed by the USDA NASS South Carolina Statistical Office, indicated that SOUTH CAROLINAfarmers intend to plant more corn, cotton and peanuts this year while soybeans and tobacco are down from 2004.

CORN growers currently expect to plant 330,000 acres in 2005. This is up 5 percent (15,000 acres) from the acreage planted in 2004, and up 38 percent from 2003.

COTTON growers currently intend to plant 230,000 acres in 2005. This is up 7 percent (15,000 acres) from 2004 and 5 percent above in 2003.

TOBACCO acreage for harvest in 2005 is expected to total 23,000 acres. This is down 15 percent from 2004, and 23 percent below 2003.

Based on the March 1 survey, SOYBEAN acreage is expected to decrease in 2005. A total of 440,000 acres are expected to be planted - down 19 percent (100,000 acres) from 2004 but up 2 percent from 2003.

WHEAT acreage planted for the 2005 crop is set at 180,000 acres - down 5 percent (10,000 acres) from 2004 and down 10 percent from 2003.

SORGHUM acreage for this year is expected to total 9,000 acres, up 29 percent from 2004 and 2003.

OATS, including both fall and spring plantings, are expected to total 35,000 acres - down 12 percent from 2004 and 2003.

PEANUT acreage for 2005 is expected to total 55,000 acres, up 57 percent from 2004, and up 189 percent from 2003.

HAY acres for harvest this year are expected to total 330,000 acres - unchanged from 2004 but down 3 percent from 2003.

SWEET POTATO planted acreage is expected to be 1,000 acres. This is unchanged from 2004 but down 29 percent from 2003.

UNITED STATES 2005 PLANTED ACRES AND PERCENT OF 2004 1/