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corn acres jump in U.S., Nebraska
Nebraska A surge in corn prices this spring and favorable early season weather allowed Nebraska corn producers to plant 9.1 million acres of corn this year, 100,000 acres more than the initial U.S. Department of Agriculture estimate in March and the largest corn planting in the state since 1936. "We expect to produce more than 1.3 billion bushels of corn from those 9.1 million acres if Mother Nature continues to help us out in the growing season," said Don Hutchens, executive director of the Nebraska corn Board. "To date, the Nebraska crop is in great shape--with 84 percent of the crop in good-to-excellent condition, compared to 71 percent last year at this time." Across the U.S., farmers planted 92.9 million acres of corn this year, up 19 percent from last year and 14 percent more than 2005. Total planted acres increased 2.4 million from USDA's initial estimate in March and is the largest planted corn acres since 1944 when 95.5 million acres were planted. "Nebraska and U.S. farmers are doing their part by responding to market signals for more corn for feed, fuel and food," Hutchens said. He said one of the exciting parts of the bigger planted acre number in Nebraska is the added value that ethanol and livestock provide. "As we transform corn into ethanol, red meat, dairy products and poultry, we also add jobs, tax revenue to local and state government and revitalize rural communities," he said. "The growth in corn acres also helps hold or increase the value of other commodities, like soybeans, wheat and alfalfa hay." Another interesting item, Hutchens said, is the number of acres planted with biotech hybrids. Across the U.S., producers planted 73 percent of their crops with herbicide resistant, insect resistant or stacked (both herbicide and insect resistant) biotech hybrids. The total is up from 61 percent last year. In Nebraska, corn producers planted 79 percent of their crop with such hybrids, up from 76 percent last year. "Biotech hybrids on the market today offer real benefits," Hutchens said. "They reduce the amount of chemicals and insecticides farmers have to use, which is good for everyone. At the same time, they improve the odds of maximizing the genetic potential of the plant, which results in better yields--meaning there's more corn available for livestock producers and ethanol plants." The Nebraska corn Board feels that no other state is in as good a position to take advantage of the corn-ethanol-distillers grains-cattle relationship as Nebraska. "That fact is showing up in recent cattle on feed reports, which have shown steady growth each month in the number of cattle being fed in Nebraska due to cheaper feed costs than anywhere else in the country," Hutchens said. The Nebraska corn Board collects and disburses the funds generated by the 1/4 of a cent per bushel corn checkoff. Nebraska corn checkoff funds are invested in programs of market development, research and education. Date: 7/5/07
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