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Last Updated: Aug 1, 2008 - 10:24:18 AM |
Contact: Ellen Dougherty, (202) 690-8122
Washington, June 30, 2008 - Despite the recent flooding in the Midwest,
U.S. farmers expect to harvest nearly 79 million acres of corn and more
than 72 million acres of soybeans in 2008, according to the Acreage
report released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
The report shows U.S. farmers planted 87.3 million acres of corn in
2008, down 7 percent from last year's 93.6 million acres, but still the
second largest area since 1946. Of that area, growers expect to harvest
78.9 million acres for grain, down 9 percent from 2007 but still the
second largest area since 1944. For soybeans, 2008 planted area is
estimated at 74.5 million acres, the third largest on record and up 17
percent from last year. Of the planted area, farmers expect to harvest
72.1 million acres, up 15 percent from last year.
NASS collected the initial data for the annual Acreage report during
the first two weeks of June, before the majority of the flooding
occurred in the Midwest. In an effort to more accurately determine how
much of the planted area producers still intend to harvest for grain,
NASS re-interviewed 1,150 farmers last week in flood-affected areas of
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.
"While many farmers are still assessing their damage and their options,
this re-interview process provided a first look at how much of the
planted corn and soybeans may remain standing for harvest," said Carol
House, chair of NASS's Agricultural Statistics Board. "And what we are
seeing is that the ratio of acres intended for harvest, compared to
acres originally planted, is off about 2 percent from what we would
have expected prior the floods."
NASS's August 12 Crop Production report will contain the first 2008
estimates of corn and soybean yield and production. To help ensure that
these estimates are based on the best information available, NASS will
supplement its standard survey activities by re-interviewing
approximately 9,000 farmers in the flood-affected areas. These
re-interviews will be conducted in the middle of July, allowing time
for flooded fields to dry and for farmers to fully assess their
options. Additionally, NASS will increase the number of corn and
soybean fields selected for objective field measurements.
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