March 6, 2007

US' Georgia state to plant more corn
 

Farmers in the US state of Georgia are expected to plant approximately 170,000 additional acres of corn this year to help supply the increasing number of ethanol plants.

With corn prices soaring to US$4.04 per bushel, the best corn prices in a decade, Georgia's acreage is expected to jump about 38 percent from 280,000 acres (113,312 hectares) last year to 450,000 acres (182,109 hectares) this year.

Higher corn prices have already resulted in higher feed costs for poultry and beef producers, and farmers have responded by reducing production, in turn creating higher prices for consumers.

Experts believe farmers will plant fewer peanuts and less cotton to accommodate the larger corn crop and they may produce more soybeans, a source of oil for the booming biodiesel industry.