June 30, 2011

Nebraska producers increased acreage planted to corn and sugarbeets from a year ago, while decreasing acres planted to soybeans, winter wheat, hay, sorghum, dry edible beans, oats, sunflowers, and proso millet, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office.

• Nebraska corn growers planted 10.0 million acres for all purposes in 2011, up 9% from last year and the largest total since 1933. Biotechnology varieties accounted for 93% of the planted acreage, up 2% from a year ago.
• Soybean producers planted 4.75 million acres, down 8% from the previous year. Biotechnology varieties resistant to herbicides accounted for 97% of the planted acreage, up from 94% last year.
• Last fall, winter wheat was sown on 1.5 million acres, down 6% from 2010. Area for harvest, at 1.4 million, is down 6% from 2010.
• Sorghum growers planted 135,000 acres, 13% less than 2010 and the lowest planted area since 1930.
• Alfalfa hay acreage for harvest, at 850,000, is down 4% from last year and the lowest total since 1943. Other types of hay, at 1.7 million acres, are down 6% from a year earlier.
• Dry edible bean producers planted 125,000 acres, down 26% from a year earlier.
• Oat seedings, at 80,000 acres, are down 11% from 2010.
• Proso millet plantings are down 33% from a year ago.
• Sunflower acres of 48,000 are down 23% from 2010.
• Sugarbeet plantings of 53,000 acres are up 3,000 acres from last year.

News Release (June 30, 2011)
Nebraska Field Office, USDA National Agricultural Statistic Service