USDA Releases Acreage Report

USDA’s June 30 Acreage Report

Summary:

 

Corn Planted Acreage Down 7%                 

Soybean Acreage Up 17%                         

All Wheat Acreage Up 5%

All Cotton Acreage Down 15%

From the USDA: 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 the small percentage of acres not yet planted, and consider replanting options. NASS collected most of the data for the 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, 24, and 25 in the flood-affected areas. As a result, it was determined that U.S. farmers intend to harvest 90.4 percent of their planted acres of corn for grain. This is a change from 92.4 percent as measured during the first 2 weeks of June. U.S. farmers intend to harvest 96.8 percent of their planted acres of soybeans. Without this additional survey data, historical averages would have indicated 98.7 percent of soybean acres to be harvested. NASS will conduct a more extensive acreage update survey during July. Findings from this study will be incorporated in the August Crop Production report.

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The interesting part of the June 30th USDA Report was the large increase in planted corn acreage for 2008, given the significant planting delays in much of the Midwest, and the severe flooding in Iowa, Illinois, and other States. It should be noted that the June 30th USDA Report is based on crop conditions on June 1st, and the planted acreage does not reflect harvested corn acreage. USDA did a secondary crop survey in late June to determine preliminary changes in harvested corn acreage for 2008. Based on those results, it would appear that an estimated 90.4 percent of corn acres will be harvested for grain in 2008, compared to a normal of 92.4 percent of corn acres, obviously reflecting the floods and excessive rainfall in many areas of the Midwest in early June. Similarly, based on the late June crop survey, the percent of planted soybean acreage to be harvested for 2008 was listed at 96.8 percent, compared to a normal of 98.7 percent.

View the entire acreage report.

 

 

Midwest Flood; Disaster Relief Fund

Devastation in the Heartland

Recent flooding in the Midwest has been described as worse than the “500-year flood” of 1993. Heavy rains have pushed all three of the Midwest’s major rivers — the Missouri, Illinois and Mississippi — above flood stage, leaving residents in Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin struggling from the destruction. It’s also left the American Red Cross struggling in funds to assist the flood victims.

“The Red Cross is in urgent need of donations to help with this massive project,” says Patti Griffin, director of public support for the Quad City Chapter of the Red Cross. “It’s estimated to take $15 million for cleanup.”

More than 24,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in the hardest hit city of Cedar Rapids, IA where flooding has caused more than $736 million in damage. National Guard and volunteers sandbagged towns across five states in the Midwest and Iowa’s governor has declared 83 of the state’s 99 counties disaster areas.

“Iowa is the heart of the area in need but there is also work being done in several surrounding states,” Griffin says. “The disaster keeps spreading.”

She urges people to donate to the National Disaster Relief Fund as opposed to local Red Cross chapters so that money can be distributed across the areas as efficiently as possible.

“It’s with the help of the American public that we are able to respond to the disasters in the Midwest, as well as the disasters that occur every day in local communities across the country that you may not hear about,” said Joe Becker, senior vice president, Disaster Services for the American Red Cross.

To donate to the National Disaster Relief Fund, call 1-800-GIVENOW or visit www.redcross.org.