Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

INTRODUCTION

• Corn planted acreage down 3 percent from 2005
• Soybean acreage up 4 percent
• All wheat acreage up 1 percent
• All cotton acreage up 7 percent

Corn planted area for all purposes is estimated at 79.4 million acres, down 3 percent from 2005 and 2 percent
below 2004. Farmers increased corn plantings 2 percent from their March intentions. With the exception of
Minnesota, North Dakota, and Oklahoma, corn acreage is down from last year across the Corn Belt, Great
Plains, Ohio Valley, and Delta. Planting began slowly in the Corn Belt and northern Great Plains as
precipitation hampered progress. Progress accelerated rapidly during April despite periods of heavy rainfall,
as warm temperatures helped fields dry quickly. By the end of April, planting was ahead of normal in all
States, except Indiana and the Dakotas. Mostly hot, dry conditions in the western Corn Belt and Great Plains
during May and June favored planting activities and crop emergence but contributed to soil moisture
shortages and lower crop conditions. Persistent rainfall and below normal temperatures across the eastern
Corn Belt and Ohio Valley during May hindered planting and limited crop development, but helped maintain
adequate soil moisture. Warmer temperatures during June helped spur development in these areas. Farmers
responding to the survey indicated that 99 percent of the corn acreage had been planted at the time of the
interview, compared with the average of 98 percent for the past 10 years.

The 2006 soybean planted area is estimated at 74.9 million acres, up 4 percent from last year. Area for
harvest, at 73.9 million acres, is also up 4 percent from 2005. The planted area is down 3 percent from the
March Prospective Plantings report. With the exception of Ohio and South Dakota, planted acreage
increased or was unchanged from last year throughout the Corn Belt and adjacent areas of the Great Plains
and Mississippi Delta. States with new record-high soybean planted areas include Kansas, North Dakota, and
Pennsylvania. Growers in North Dakota and Illinois showed the largest increase in soybean acreage from last
year, up 850,000 and 600,000 acres, respectively. Record high soybean yields in 2005 and high input costs
this year have North Dakota farmers shifting to soybeans from more input intensive crops. Illinois growers
are shifting to soybeans from a record high corn planted area and below normal corn yields in 2005.
Nationally, farmers reported that 91 percent of the intended soybean acreage had been planted at the time of
the survey interview, compared with the average of 82 percent for the past 10 years.

All wheat planted area is estimated at 57.9 million acres, up 1 percent from 2005. The 2006 winter wheat
planted area, at 41.4 million acres, is 2 percent above last year but virtually unchanged from the previous
estimates. Of this total, about 29.7 million acres are Hard Red Winter, 7.45 million acres are Soft Red
Winter, and 4.21 million acres are White Winter. Area planted to other spring wheat for 2006 is estimated at
14.6 million acres, up 4 percent from 2005. Of this total, about 13.9 million acres are Hard Red Spring
wheat. The Durum planted area for 2006 is estimated at 1.89 million acres, down 32 percent from the
previous year. This is the lowest Durum wheat acreage since 1961.

All cotton plantings for 2006 are expected to total 15.3 million acres, 7 percent above last year. Upland
acreage is expected to total 14.9 million acres, also up 7 percent. Producers increased their acreages in all
States except Mississippi, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. American-Pima cotton growers planted
336,000 acres, up 24 percent from 2005. California producers planted a record high 290,000 acres, an
increase of 60,000 acres from last year.

Full report in PDF format:
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/field/pcp-bba/acrg0606.pdf