Farm Compliance

In its national weekly weather report today, the USDA reported that significant rain (at least an inch) fell across the southern and eastern Corn Belt the week of April 12, further delaying the onset of most spring fieldwork. In contrast, mild, mostly dry weather permitted some initial corn planting and other early-season fieldwork across the upper Midwest. Meanwhile, wet weather slowed fieldwork but provided widespread drought relief on the central and southern Plains. Only light rain fell in the Dakotas, but major lowland flooding persisted in several areas, including the Red and James River basins.

Not surprising given their climate, Texas, North Carolina and Tennessee have planted the largest percentage of acres - 60, 37 and 11 percent respectively - while farmers have been waiting for drier fields and no reportable planting has taken place in Indiana, Minnesota and the Dakotas. Eight states have reported planting a higher percentage of corn acres compared to this time last year: Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio.

USDA estimates that farmers will plant 85 million acres of field corn this year. While that is 1 million acres fewer than last year, increased yield expectations mean farmers will harvest slightly more corn than the 2008 estimate of 12.101 billion bushels. The first government projection of 2009 yield, harvest acres and corn production is expected with the USDA’s May 12 World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report.