Extensive rains and flooding during June caused producers in several Midwestern States to change their harvesting intentions for crops already planted, modify planting decisions for acres not yet planted, and consider replanting options. The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) collected most of the data for their annual acreage report before the majority of the flooding occurred. In an effort to more accurately determine how many acres producers still intend to harvest for grain, NASS re-interviewed approximately 1,200 farmers June 23-25 in the flood-affected areas. NASS will conduct a more extensive acreage update survey during July and it will be included in the August Crop Production report. For now, here is their best estimate of the current situation.

       Nationally, corn planted for all purposes is estimated at 87.3 million acres, down 7 percent from last year. Despite the decrease, corn acreage is the second highest since 1946, behind last year’s total of 93.6 million acres. Growers expect to harvest 78.9 million acres for grain, down 9 percent from 2007. If realized, this would be the second highest grain harvest since 1944, only behind last year. In the U.S., 80 percent of corn was planted to a transgenic hybrid; half of those acres were planted to stacked gene hybrids. Wisconsin farmers planted 3.80 million acres of corn for all purposes, down 6 percent from last year and the same acreage as planted in 2005. Acres intended for grain harvest are 3.10 million acres. Statewide, farmers used a transgenic hybrid on 75 percent of the corn acres. Stacked gene varieties continue to increase accounting for 35 percent of the total corn acres planted.

       U.S. soybean planted area for 2008 is estimated at 74.5 million acres, up 17 percent from last year but 1 percent below the record high acreage in 2006. Area for harvest, at 72.1 million acres, is up 15 percent from 2007. Compared with last year, planted acreage increases are expected in all states, and the U.S. planted area for soybeans is the third largest on record. Nationwide farmers used herbicide resistant soybean varieties on 92 percent of the crop. Wisconsin farmers planted 1.65 million acres to soybeans, the same acreage as 2006. Harvest acreage is intended to be 1.56 million acres. In Wisconsin, 90 percent of the soybean crop is planted to a herbicide resistant variety.

       Winter and spring wheat acres are up at the national and state level. Nationally, winter wheat was planted to 46.6 million acres, an increase of 4 percent. Winter wheat harvested as grain, at 40.3 million acres, jumped 12 percent from last year. Wisconsin winter wheat acreage planted increased 21 percent to reach 350,000 acres. Nationally, spring wheat was planted to 14.2 million acres and is expected to be harvested on 13.8 million acres in 2008. Wisconsin spring wheat acres planted at 25,000 acres almost triple the acreage planted last year.