June 29, 2007

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

• Nebraska corn growers planted 9.1 million acres in 2007, up 12% from last yearand the largest planted area since 1936. Biotechnology varieties accounted for 79% of theplanted acreage, up from 76% last year.
• Soybean producers planted 4.0 million acres, down 21% from the previous year.The 2007 plantings are the lowest since 1998. Biotechnology varieties resistant to herbicides accounted for 96% of the planted acreage, up from 90% last year.
• Last fall, winter wheat was sown on 2.1 million acres, up 17% from 2006 and thelargest planted area since 1996. Acres for harvest at 2.0 million are up 18% from 2006.
• Sorghum growers planted 260,000 acres, 30% less than 2006 and the lowestplanted area since 1932.
• Alfalfa hay acreage for harvest, at 1.2 million, is down 4% from last year. Othertypes of hay, at 1.55 million, are unchanged from a year earlier.
• Proso millet plantings, at 190,000 acres, are up 41% from 2006.
• Oat seedings, at 125,000 acres, are down 22percent from 2006.
• Dry edible bean producers planted 100,000 acres, down 29% from ayear earlier.
• Sugarbeet plantings of 48,000 acres are down 22% from 2006.
• Sunflower acreage of 22,000 is down 59% from a year ago.