May 9, 2011

Nebraska invests in US corn crop-planting

The Nebraska Corn Board has announced that US farmers state-wide will be investing US$2.7 billion in the planting of this year's corn crop.

The Corn Board's executive director, Don Hutchens, said that the estimate reveals how valuable farming is to Nebraska's economy.

The estimate includes seed, fertiliser, and other inputs required to get the corn crop growing. The University of Nebraska's Extension estimated that Nebraska farmers spend roughly US$280.5 per acre to plant corn. The USDA estimates that Nebraska farmers will plant 9.5 million acres of corn this year.

Rural communities all across the Nebraskan state will benefit from the investment farmers make each spring, Hutchens said.