WASHINGTON — After a year of record high prevented plant acres, the “I” states are projected to increase corn acreage in 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s prospective plantings report released March 31.
Corn
Illinois’ corn acres are projected to reach 11.3 million, 8% above the 10.5 million planted last year and slightly higher than the 11 million acres in 2018.
A 16% increase in corn acres is anticipated in Indiana, jumping to 5.8 million after planting 5 million in 2019. The state had 5.3 million acres of corn in 2018.
The USDA report had 14.1 million corn acres in Iowa projected for this year, 4% above the 13.5 million planted in 2019. Iowa planted 13.2 million corn acres two years ago.
Soybeans
USDA’s prospective plantings report has Illinois at 10.5 million acres of soybeans, a 6% increase from 9.95 million last year and below the 10.8 million planted in 2018.
Indiana soybean acreage is projected unchanged from last year at 5.4 million, down from 6 million in 2018.
It’s projected that Iowa will have 9.3 million soybean acres, a 1% hike over last year’s 9.2 million. The state planted 9.95 million acres of soybeans in 2018.
Wheat
The report states Illinois will have 570,000 wheat acres, a 12% decline from the 650,000 planted in 2019. The Prairie State had 600,000 wheat acres two years ago.
A 3% increase in wheat planting is projected in Indiana, going from 330,000 in 2019 to 340,000 this year, after planting 310,000 acres in 2018.
Wheat acres were not available in Iowa.
Acreage Perspective
Illinois had 1.142 million corn prevent plant acres, and Indiana had 709,800 acres of idle corn acres in 2019.
Prevent plant soybeans acres last year in Illinois were estimated at 331,200 acres, and Indiana was at 230,400.
Corn acreage prevented from planting in Iowa was 381,000, and 82,400 soybean acres were idle in 2019.
Nationwide
U.S. corn planted area for all purposes in 2020 is estimated at 97 million acres, up 8% or 7.29 million acres from last year. Compared with last year, planted acreage is expected to be up or unchanged in 38 of the 48 estimating states.
Record high corn acreage is expected in Arizona (100,000 total acres), Idaho (400,000), Nevada (17,000) and Oregon (85,000). Record low acreage is expected in Connecticut (23,000) and Rhode Island (2,000).
Corn acreage increases from last year of 800,000 or more are expected in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio (3.7 million total acres) and South Dakota (6 million).
Soybean planted area for 2020 is estimated at 83.5 million acres, up 10% from last year’s 76.1 million. Compared with last year, planted acreage is expected to be up or unchanged in 22 of the 29 estimating states.
Increases of 250,000 acres or more are anticipated in Arkansas (2.9 million total acres), Illinois, Kansas (5 million), Michigan (2.2 million), Minnesota (7.4 million), Missouri (5.8 million), North Dakota (6.6 million), Ohio (4.8 million) and South Dakota (5.4 million).
All wheat planted area for 2020 is estimated at 44.7 million acres, down 1% from 2019. This represents the lowest all wheat planted area since records began in 1919. The 2020 winter wheat planted area, at 30.8 million acres, is down 1% from last year and down slightly from the previous estimate.
Record low winter wheat acreage is estimated in Nebraska (920,000 total acres) and Utah (120,000).
Methodology
The acreage estimates in this report are based primarily on surveys conducted during the first two weeks of March.
The March Agricultural Survey is a probability survey that includes a sample of approximately 80,000 farm operators selected from a list of producers that ensures all operations in the United States have a chance to be selected.
Data from operators was collected by mail, internet, telephone, or personal interview to obtain information on crop acreage intentions for the 2020 crop year.