June 28, 2013

Nebraska corn growers planted 10.2 million acres, up 2% from last year and the largest total since 1933, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Biotechnology varieties were used on 93% of the area planted, up 2% from 2012. Growers expect to harvest 9.8 million acres for grain.

Nationally, corn planted area for all purposes in 2013 is estimated at 97.4 million acres, up slightly from last year. This represents the highest planted acreage in the United States since 1936 when an estimated 102 million acres were planted. Growers expect to harvest 89.1 million acres for grain, up 2% from last year.

Soybean planted area is estimated at 4.8 million acres, down 5% from last year’s total of 5.05 million acres. Of the acres planted, 96% were planted with genetically modified, herbicide resistant seed. Nationally, soybean planted area for 2013 is estimated at a record high 77.7 million acres, up 1% from last year. Area for harvest, at 76.9 million acres, is up 1% from 2012 and will be a record high, if realized. Record high planted acreage is estimated in New York, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota.

Winter wheat seeded in the fall of 2012 totaled 1.45 million acres, up from last year’s total of 1.38 million acres. Harvested acreage is forecasted at 1.16 million acres, down 140,000 acres from the previous year.

Nationally, all wheat planted area for 2013 is estimated at 56.5 million acres, up 1% from 2012. The 2013 winter wheat planted area, at 42.7 million acres, is 3% above last year and up 2% from the previous estimate. Of this total, about 29.4 million acres are hard red winter, 9.96 million acres are soft red winter, and 3.38 million acres are white winter wheat. Area planted to other spring wheat for 2013 is estimated at 12.3 million acres, up slightly from 2012. Of this total, about 11.7 million acres are hard red spring wheat. The estimated Durum wheat planted area for 2013 is estimated at 1.54 million acres, down 28% from the previous year.

Alfalfa hay acreage to be cut for dry hay is 700,000 acres, down from the 2012 acreage of 770,000 acres. Other hay acreage to be cut for dry hay is 1.9 million acres, up from 1.8 million acres in 2012.

Sorghum acreage planted and to be planted, at 180,000 acres, is up 24% from a year ago. The area to be harvested for grain, at 80,000 acres, is up 20,000 acres from last year.

Oats planted acres increased to 150,000 acres, up from the previous year’s total of 75,000 acres. Area to be harvested for grain, at 40,000 acres, is up from 18,000 acres last year.

Dry edible bean planted acres decreased to 130,000 acres, down from 145,000 acres planted in 2012. Harvested acres are estimated at 120,000 acres, down 13,000 from the previous year.

Proso millet plantings of 120,000 acres are up from 70,000 acres a year ago.

Sugarbeet planted acres, at 46,000, are down from previous year’s average of 51,000 acres.

Oil sunflower acres planted decreased to 28,000 acres, down from 33,000 acres last year. Non-oil sunflower planted acreage is estimated at 15,000 acres, up from 8,500 acres last year.