Poultry and livestock producers got a bit of welcome news as farmers are expected to plant more feed grains for the 2013 seasons. All of the major feed grains will increase in acreage in 2013, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Planting Intentions report, with the exception of soybeans, which will decrease less than 1 percent.
"If these early planting and yield projections are realized, corn and soybeans stocks will increase, which would ultimately lead to lower feed costs for livestock and poultry farmers," said American Farm Bureau Federation crops economist Todd Davis.
The combined acreage of corn and soybeans listed in the report, released on March 28, would make 2013 the highest year on record, said USDA chief economist Joe Glauber.
Corn
Growers are expected to plant 97.3 million acres of corn, which is up just slightly from the 97.16 planted in 2012. The 2013 estimate is a 6 percent increase from 2011. If the 2013 projection is realized, this will be largest acreage in the U.S. since 1936, when an estimated 102 million acres were planted.
The state with the biggest percentage increase in corn production is Georgia, where acreage is expected to jump from 345,000 acres to 495,000 acres — a 43 percent leap. It drops the most in California, but that is only an 8 percent decrease from 610,000 acres to 560,000 acres.
Iowa, the nation's leading corn-producing state, will stay steady at 14.2 million acres.
Soybeans
The projected 7.71 million acres of planted soybeans is only 72,000 acres less than planted in the U.S. in 2012, but if realized it will still be the fourth-largest year for soybeans in U.S. history.
Planting in the Great Plains is expecting to decline, with the exception of Illinois and North Dakota, which are expecting large increases, according to the report. Illinois leads all states in total anticipated acreage at 9.4 million acres.
Georgia, while not a major soybean-producing state, will have the largest increase, going from 220,000 acres in 2012 to 280,000 in 2013.
Wheat
An estimated 56.4 million acres of wheat will be planted in 2013, which would be a 1 percent climb from 2012.
Iowa is expected to have the biggest increase in acreage percent-wise, going from 18,000 acres to 40,000 acres. Kansas, the nation's top wheat-producing state, will drop about 2 percent, going from 9.5 million acres to 9.3 million acres. North Dakota, which ranks second, will also see a 2 percent drop. Oklahoma and Texas — also top producers — are expected to have near-equal acreage.
Sorghum
Sorghum acreage will grow by a larger percentage in 2013 than any other feed grain. It will jump 22 percent from 6.2 million acres in 2012 to 7.6 million acres.
Texas is expected to surpass Kansas as the nation's leading sorghum producer, going from 2.3 million acres to 3 million acres. However, Kansas is also expected to increase its production, going from 2.5 million acres to 2.9 million acres.
Arizona and Missisippi — neither large producers of sorghum — are the only two states whose acreage is expected to decrease.
Oats
Oat production in the U.S. will see a 5 percent jump from 2.76 million acres to 2.9 million acres.
The biggest mover in terms of percentage is Nebraska, which will see an 80 percent increase to reach 135,000 acres. Texas, the nation's largest producer, will jump 20 percent in acres planted, going from 500,000 acres to 600,000 acres. Oklahoma, its neighbor to the north, will decrease from 75,000 acres to 40,000 acres, the largest drop nationwide.
