Immediate Release:
Monday, June 30, 2008
Nebraska Corn Board contacts:
Kelly Brunkhorst: 800.632.6761
USDA: Nebraska corn producers
increase corn acres to 9.0 million
LINCOLN, NE – Nebraska corn producers planted 9.0 million acres of corn this year, about 4 percent below last year, but up about 200,000 acres from the original planting intentions report released in March, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s acreage report released this morning. Estimated harvested acres in Nebraska is 8.8 million.
Nationally, USDA said 87.3 million acres of corn was planted this year, down 7 percent from last year’s crop, but 1.3 million more than March intentions. Reflecting flooding in parts of the Midwest, USDA said harvested acres would be 78.9 million, down 9 percent from last year. Flooding reduced harvested acres by about 1.7 million, although USDA plans a follow-up survey in July to get a better understanding. Results from that survey will be released in August.
“Despite the wet spring, Nebraska corn producers were able to respond to market demands and increase corn plantings in what turned out to be a narrow window,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, ag program manager for the Nebraska Corn Board. “It’s incredible how quickly farmers can get a crop in the ground.”
Brunkhorst said Nebraska corn plantings are the second highest since the 1930s, with last year’s 9.4 million acres being the highest.
Nationally, USDA said corn plantings are the second highest since 1946, behind last year’s 93.6 million. It said harvested acres would be the second highest since 1944, behind last year’s 86.5 million.
“Good growing conditions the rest of this summer will allow corn growers across the country to produce a very large crop, in the 11.5 billion to 12.0 billion bushel range, one of the largest on record,” Brunkhorst said. “When combined with a 1.4 billion bushel carry over from last year, corn producers will be able to meet all corn demands this coming year.”
In a separate report, USDA said corn stocks as of June 1 totaled 4.01 billion bushels, up a solid 14 percent from last year.
The Nebraska Corn Board is a self-help program, funded and managed by Nebraska corn farmers. Producers invest in the program at a rate of ¼ of a cent per bushel of corn sold. Nebraska corn checkoff funds are invested in programs of market development, research and education.
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