July 3, 2007

US 2007 corn crop, biggest in 63 years

The 92.9 million acres of US corn planted in 2007 is by far the largest amount of acreage since 1944 with 19 percent more planted than last year, according to the Acreage report released by the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Iowa continued to lead all states in total corn acres, and state records were set in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and North Dakota. The report attributes the increase to favourable prices, growing ethanol demand, and strong export sales.

The increase in corn is offset by fewer acres of soybeans in the Corn Belt and Great Plains and fewer acres of cotton in the Delta and Southeast, states a news release.

The report is based on surveys conducted during the first two weeks of June on approximately 11,000 segments of land and from a sample of approximately 88,000 farm operators across the United States.