Wisconsin Ag Connection - Planting Intentions Report: WI Corn Acres to Drop

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Planting Intentions Report: WI Corn Acres to Drop
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 04/02/2008

Wisconsin farmers intend to plant 10 percent fewer acres of corn than last year, but will grow more soybeans and and wheat. That's according to the latest Prospective Plantings report by the USDA. The agency says farmers in the Dairy State intend to plant 3.65 million acres to corn for all purposes--a 400,000 acre decrease from 2007. Current Wisconsin corn planting intentions are the same as 2006 planted acreage. Farmers in the 10 major corn producing states intend to plant 66.6 million acres, down eight percent from the 72.0 million acres planted last year.

Soybean planting intentions for Wisconsin are 1.65 million acres, up 22 percent from 1.35 million acres last year, and the same acreage as two years ago. Last year, many growers switched from soybeans to corn as ethanol expansion strongly increased the demand for the crop. In contrast, many growers intend to plant more soybeans this year due to high prices and strong demand for soybeans.

In 2008, Wisconsin farmers anticipate planting 260,000 acres to oats, a 10,000 acre decrease from 2007. Barley planting intentions are unchanged from last year at 40,000 acres. And winter wheat in the fall of 2007 for harvest in 2008 increased 40,000 acres from a year ago to reach 330,000 acres. Wisconsin spring wheat intentions jumped up 11,000 acres to 20,000 acres in 2008.

All dry hay area harvested during 2008 is expected to reach 2.05 million acres, up slightly from 2007. Wisconsin dry edible bean acreage is expected to be 5,500 acres in 2008, a 10 percent decrease from 2007, yet very close to the 5,600 planted acres in 2006.

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