DES MOINES — USDA’s 2010 Acreage Report released last week shows Iowa corn planted for all purposes has decreased 3 percent from 2009 to 13.3 million acres. Corn to be harvested for grain is forecast at 13 million acres.
Soybean acres planted is estimated at 10.2 million, up 600,000 from 2009, a 6 percent increase. Soybean acres to be harvested is forecast at 10.15 million acres. The acreage estimates in this report are based on data collected from May 29 through June 12.
"We are not surprised by the increase in soybean acres," said Iowa Soybean Association President Delbert Christensen in response to the report. "We are a little skeptical whether all those acres will be there at harvest, as a result of weather issues. We continue to be encouraged by the strong demand, as indicated by the stocks report. As of June 30, grain stocks show demand has continued to exceed expectations."
Nationally, corn planted area for all purposes in 2010 is estimated at 87.9 million acres, up 2 percent from last year. The largest increases in planted acreage compared to last year are reported in Illinois and Kansas, both up 600,000 acres from 2009. Other notable increases were shown in Indiana, up 400,000 acres; Missouri, up 300,000 acres; and Ohio, up 250,000 acres. The largest decrease in planted acreage is reported in Iowa, down 400,000 acres. Both Nebraska and South Dakota are down 350,000 acres from the previous year.
U.S. soybean planted area for 2010 is estimated at a record high 78.9 million acres, up 2 percent from last year. Area for harvest, at 78.0 million acres, is also up 2 percent from 2009, and will be the largest harvested area on record, if realized. Compared with last year, planted acreage increased by 300,000 acres or more in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and Nebraska. The states with the largest declines compared with last year are Arkansas, down 270,000 acres, and North Carolina, down 250,000 acres. Record high planted acreage is estimated in Kansas, Nebraska, New York, and Pennsylvania, and planted area will tie the previous record high in Minnesota and Oklahoma.
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All wheat planted area is estimated at 54.3 million acres, down 8 percent from 2009. This is the lowest United States’ total since 1971.
Iowa producers also reported the percent of genetically modified seed varieties used to plant the 2010 corn and soybean acres. The percent of corn acreage planted to insect resistant (Bt) varieties is estimated at 15 percent, herbicide resistant only varieties were planted on 14 percent of the acres, and stacked gene varieties were planted on 61 percent of the acres. Overall, 90 percent of the corn acreage was planted to GMO seed. Ninety-six percent of Iowa’s soybean acreage was planted with herbicide resistant GMO seed.
