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NCGA: USDA projects 8 percent drop in corn acres for 2008The March 31 Prospective Plantings report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates farmers are concerned about high input costs, according to the National Corn Growers Association. The report says farmers intend to plant 86.014 million corn acres this year, an 8 percent drop from 2007's high acreage, yet the second-highest acreage intention since 1949, NCGA notes. "We're always cautious when we review the March projections, because they are made before any seeds really enter the ground," said Ron Litterer, NCGA president. "The corn acreage projections also have a tendency to go up. Last year, for example, there was a difference of more than 3 million acres between the March estimate and the final number." Litterer pointed out USDA's March report has underestimated actual corn acres in the each of the last four years. "One thing farmers have told us this year, and something I've seen myself, are that growers are facing tremendously higher input costs--particularly for fertilizer and diesel fuel," Litterer added. "We need access to more affordable sources of natural gas for fertilizer production and we're concerned about the impact of higher crude oil prices on farmer profitability." The March USDA report would indicate approximately 79 million harvested acres. If the average trend yield of 155.5 bushels per acre is realized, corn producers would be on track to produce approximately 12.3 billion bushels in 2008--the second-highest production ever. The USDA's June 30 report will provide a clearer view of 2008 corn acreage. "Based on what we've heard from our growers, and if the weather goes our way, we're confident we will produce another good crop," Litterer said. "We're committed to meeting all needs--food, fuel, feed and fiber, and we are heartened by the trend toward higher yields that maximizes how much corn is produced per acre. Farmers are becoming more efficient and more productive." The March 31 USDA report also noted that many previous corn acres are being planted in soybean, a common crop rotation. The projected 74.8 million acres would be the third-highest soybean acreage in history. Complete information on the USDA Prospective Planting report is available at www.usda.gov.
Date: 4/1/08
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