June 27, 2008

Nebraska producers increased area planted to soybeans,proso millet, dry edible beans, and sunflowers from a year ago, according to a June 30 report from USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Area devoted to corn, winterwheat, hay, and sugarbeets decreased, while sorghum and oats acreage were unchanged.

Nebraska corn growers planted 9.0 million acres for all purposes in 2008, down 4%from last year but still the second largest planted area since 1936. Biotechnology varietiesaccounted for 86% of the planted acreage, up from 79% last year.

Soybean producers planted 4.75 million acres, up 25% from the previous year.Biotechnology varieties resistant to herbicides accounted for 97% of the planted acreage,up from 96% last year.

Last fall, winter wheat was sown on 1.8 million acres, down 12% from 2007.Area for harvest, at 1.7 million, is down 13% from 2007.

Sorghum growers planted 350,000 acres, unchanged from 2007.

Alfalfa hay acreage for harvest, at 1.05 million, is down 9% from last year. Othertypes of hay, at 1.45 million acres, are down 3% from a year earlier.

Proso milletplantings, at 165,000 acres, are up 14% from 2007.

Oat seedings, at 120,000 acres, areunchanged from 2007.

Dry edible bean producers planted 120,000 acres, up 9% from ayear earlier.

Sunflower acreage of 60,000 is up 22% from a year ago.

Sugarbeet plantingsof 46,000 acres are down 3% from 2007.

June 30 Report, Nebraska Field Office
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service