Corn, soybeans acres down in IIIinois

The Illinois Field Office of NASS has released the USDA's June Acreage and Grain Stocks Reports.

The report indicates that, among other things, the number of southeastern Illinois acres planted in corn and soybeans declined this spring from 2010 levels. Corn acres fell from 662,000 to 632,000 and soybean acres from 735,000 to 693,000.

Highlights of the report include:

JUNE ACREAGE

ILLINOIS

Corn planted in Illinois in 2011 is estimated at 12.5 million acres, down 300,000 from the March Prospective Plantings Report and down 100 thousand acres from last year. Acreage planted to biotechnology varieties is estimated at 86 percent of the total acreage, up from 82 percent last year. Bt varieties account for 14 percent, herbicide resistant varieties account for 17 percent, and 55 percent was stacked-gene varieties. Planting got off to a slow start in 2011. As of May 1, just 10 percent of the crop was planted, 36 points behind the five year average. The crop was rated 12 percent excellent, 52 percent good, 26 percent fair, 7 percent poor, and 3 percent very poor as of June 26.

An estimated 8.9 million acres are planted and to be planted to soybeans in Illinois for the 2011 season. This is 200 thousand acres below March intentions and 200 thousand acres less than last year. An estimated 92 percent of all soybean acres are planted to herbicide resistant varieties. In spite of above normal rainfall, 97 percent of the crop was planted as of June 26. This compares to 94 percent planted last year and 94 percent for the five-year average. Emergence is also above last year at 93 percent. The crop was rated 9 percent excellent, 51 percent good, 29 percent fair, 9 percent poor and 2 percent very poor on June 26.

An estimated 760 thousand acres of winter wheat were seeded in Illinois last fall, more than double the 330 thousand acres seeded in 2009. Harvested acreage is expected to total 720 thousand acres, up 425 thousand from last year. As of June 26, 74 percent of the wheat crop was ripe, compared to 81 percent last year and the five-year average of 75 percent. Harvest is underway and was 43 percent complete on June 26, compared to 58 percent last year and the five-year average of 51 percent.

UNITED STATES

Corn: The 2011 corn planted area for all purposes is estimated at 92.3 million acres, up 5 percent from last year. The second highest planted acreage in the United States since 1944, behind only the 93.5 million acres planted in 2007. Iowa continues to lead all States with 14.2 million acres, the second highest acreage on record for that State. Notable increases in acreage from last year are also reported in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Growers expect to harvest 84.9 million acres for grain, up four percent from last year.

Planting got off to a slow start in 2011 due to unfavorable planting conditions across much of the major corn-producing region during April. Midwestern fieldwork remained at a virtual standstill during the middle part of April due to heavy rains and lowland flooding in the central and eastern Corn Belt. By May 1, only 13 percent of the acreage had been planted, compared to 66 percent planted at the same time last year and 40 percent for the 5-year average pace.

Producers planted 88 percent of their acreage with seed varieties developed using biotechnology, up 2 percent from 2010. Varieties containing bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) were planted on 16 percent of the acreage, unchanged from last year. Herbicide resistant varieties developed using biotechnology were planted on 23 percent of the acreage, also unchanged from 2010. Stacked gene varieties, those containing both insect and herbicide resistance, were planted on 49 percent of the acreage, up 2 percent from a year ago.

Soybeans: The 2011 soybean planted area is estimated at 75.2 million acres, down 3 percent from 2010. Planted area decreased from last year in 21 out of 31 States and is the lowest since 2007. Area for harvest is forecast at 74.3 million acres, also down 3 percent from 2010. Severe flooding during April contributed to delayed soybean planting this spring. Heavy snowmelt created flooding along the upper and middle Mississippi River, while heavy rains induced flooding across the Ohio Valley

and Mid-South. During the last week of April, historic flooding occurred in southeastern Missouri and neighboring areas as the flood crest moved south. Meanwhile, cool temperatures and rain combined to slow planting progress across the northern Corn Belt. As of May 8, only 7 percent of intended soybean acreage was planted, 21 points behind last year's pace and 10 points behind the 5-year average.

All wheat planted area is estimated at 56.4 million acres, up 5 percent from

2010. The 2011 winter wheat planted area, at 41.1 million acres, is up 10 percent from last year. Of this total, about 29.1 million acres are Hard Red Winter, 8.3 million acres are Soft Red Winter, and 3.7 million acres are White Winter. Area planted to other spring wheat for 2011 is estimated at 13.6 million acres, down 1 percent from 2010. Of this total, about 12.9 million acres are Hard Red Spring wheat. Durum planted area for 2011 is estimated at 1.70 million acres, down 34 percent from the previous year. Flooding in the Dakotas reduced acres planted to other spring and Durum wheat.

GRAIN STOCKS

ILLINOIS

Stocks of corn in Illinois on June 1, 2011 were estimated at 648 million bushels, 15 percent below June 1, 2010. On-farm stocks were 225 million bushels, down 21 percent from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 423 million bushels, were down 12 percent. The March-May indicated disappearance was 469 million bushels, compared to the disappearance of 669 million bushels last year.

Soybean stocks were estimated at 99.5 million bushels on June 1, 2011, 8 percent above a year earlier. On-farm stocks totaled 36 million bushels, which compares to 40 million on June 1, 2010. Off-farm stocks totaled 63.5 million bushels, up 22 percent from last year. The March-May indicated disappearance for stocks in all positions was 102.1 million bushels, compared to the disappearance of 104.7 million bushels a year ago.

Wheat stocks on June 1, 2011 were estimated at 35.6 million bushels, down from 48.2 million bushels a year ago. Off-farm stocks were 35.2 million bushels, 99 percent of the total stocks.

UNITED STATES

Corn stocks in all positions on June 1, 2011 totaled 3.67 billion bushels, down 15 percent from June 1, 2010. Of the total stocks, 1.68 billion bushels are stored on farms, down 21 percent from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 1.99 billion bushels, are down 9 percent from a year ago. The March - May 2011 indicated disappearance is 2.85 billion bushels, compared with 3.38 billion bushels during the same period last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions on June 1, 2011 totaled 619 million bushels, up 8 percent from June 1, 2010. On-farm stocks totaled 218 million bushels, down 6 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 401 million bushels, are up 19 percent from a year ago. Indicated disappearance for the March - May 2011 quarter totaled 630 million bushels, down 10 percent from the same period a year earlier.

All wheat stored in all positions on June 1, 2011 totaled 861 million bushels, down 12 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks are estimated at 131 million bushels, down 38 percent from last year. Off-farm stocks, at 730 million bushels, are down 5 percent from a year ago. The March - May 2011 indicated disappearance is 565 million bushels, up 48 percent from the same period a year earlier.