The USDA reported on Thursday in their March 31 Prospective Plantings report that the all wheat planted area in the U.S. is estimated at 58.0 million acres, up 8 percent from 2010. Corn acreage was reported 5{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} higher with soybean acreage down 1{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2}.
Below is the breakdown for our region:
MONTANA:
In the Big Sky State, it is projected that farmers will plant/have planted 3{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} more wheat than in 2010. Of that, there is 12{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} more winter wheat, 2{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} less spring wheat and 6{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} less durum.
Montana’s barley acreage is expected to be up 1{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2}. While no data was given for last year’s chickpea crop, 11,000 acres are expected to be devoted to it this year. This is a big jump up from the 1,900 acres in 2009. Montana’s lentil acreage is up 23{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2}. The canola area planted is expected to be up 43{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} and flaxseed is expected to see 47{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} more acreage. Sugarbeet acreage is predicted to be up 8{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2}.
NORTH DAKOTA:
In North Dakota, the USDA expects that farmers will plant 6{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} more wheat this year. Included in that increase is 3{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} more winter wheat and 11{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} more spring wheat. Durum, on the other hand, is expected to see an 11{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} decrease in acres.
The USDA also sees an 11{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} increase in canola acreage, a 4{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} increase in lentils and a 5{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} increase in sugarbeet acreage. On the flip side, dry edible beans are expected to lose 44{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} of their acreage. Sunflower acres are expected to be down 12{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2}.
SOUTH DAKOTA:
As a state, South Dakota is predicted to plant 7{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} more wheat acres in 2011 than they had in 2010. Durum acres are set to be steady while spring wheat is expected to be down 7{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2}. The big increase is in the 22{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} more acres of winter wheat.
South Dakota sunflower acres are expected to be up 8{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} with a 17{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} increase in the oil varieties.
WYOMING:
In the Cowboy State, the USDA predicts a 15{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} drop in winter wheat acres. Oats and barley are expected to be on par with 2010.
Dry edible bean acres are expected to be down 24{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2}. Sugarbeet acreage is forecast to have an 11{dfeadfe70caf58f453a47791a362966239aaa64624c42b982d70b175f7e3dda2} drop.
CLICK HERE to be directed to the full USDA Prospective Plantings Report.
© Northern Ag Network 2011
Haylie Shipp
