According to the USDA Prospective Planting Report released today, Southeast growers plan to plant more cotton, less corn, more soybeans and about the same acres of peanuts, but individual states will have changes compared to last year.

“Looking at the report, you could say it is an input-pricing story. We’ve got higher commodity prices across the board, but we also have high volatility potential, especially considering inputs with triple fertilizer prices and double or more in fuel prices. That’s obviously factoring into these decisions too,” said Nathan Smith, economist and agribusiness program director at Clemson University.

Input concerns may drive some of these intentions, “but for grains and cotton, and to a certain extent soybean, we are also looking at a supply and demand situation, where pricing is responding to increased demand globally,” he said.

“Demand is strong, and prices are good, but there is still high levels of trepidation about this year. What should be a good financial year for farmers may not be unless they make strong, or above-average yields for their farms,” he said. “In this report, if it holds up as planting progresses, growers are saying where their risk standpoints are.”

Peanuts

U.S. peanut growers said they plan to plant 1.57 million acres, or about what was planted last year nationally, however, there are declines and increases in individual states.

In Georgia, the country’s largest peanut-producing state, growers said they plan to plant 730,000 acres, or 3% less than last year.

Alabama growers said 175,000 acres for 2022, or 5% less than last year. Florida growers said 160,000 acres, or 6% less than last year.

In South Carolina, growers plan to up acres to 85,000, or 23% more than last year. North Carolina plan to increase, too, to 120,000 acres, or 4% more than last year. Virginia growers are looking at 32,000 acres, or 7% more than last year.

In Mississippi, growers plan to increase to 20,000 acres, or 11% more than last year. Texas growers said 190,000 acres, or 6% more than last year.

Cotton

According to the survey, all U.S. cotton growers plan to plant 12.2 million acres, up 9% from last year. Upland cotton is estimated at 12.1 million acres, up 9% from 2021. Pima is estimated at 176,000 acres, up 39% from 2021.

Alabama estimated cotton acres are 420,000, or 4% increase. Georgia growers indicated they’d plant 1.2 million acres, up 3% from last year. Florida growers indicated an increase, too, to 110,000 acres, or 21% more than last year. South Carolina growers liked more cotton with 24% increase over last year to 260,000 this year. North Carolina is estimated at 435,000 acres, up 16% from last year. While Virginia is looking at 88,000 acres, or 17% more than last year.

According to the National Cotton Council’s Early Season Planting Intentions Survey, cotton producers in the U.S. plan on planting almost 12 million acres of cotton this coming season. That is up 7.3% from the previous year,

The NCC survey was conducted December 14, 2021 through January 17, 2022, and showed growers planned on 11.9 million acres of Upland cotton, an increase of 7.1%. The NCC survey also showed extra-long staple cotton acres may increase 24.8% to 158,000 acres. The NCC planting intentions were released on Feb. 13.

Corn and Soybeans

Corn acres across the Southeast will decline. Alabama is looking at 300,000 acres, down 15% compared to last year. Georgia growers plan on 430,000 acres, or 10% less than last year. Florida will decline 16% to 80,000 acres. South Carolina growers will plan to decrease by 20% to 320,000 acres. North Carolina looks to have 930,000 acres, or 3% less and Virginia will be down 13% to 450,000 acres.

Southeastern soybean growers plan to increase acreage in 2022. Alabama growers look to plant 350,000 acres, or 13% more than last year. Georgia growers will increase also to 170,000 acres, or 21% more than last year. There was no report for Florida. South Carolina growers will plant 390,000, or about the same as 2021. North Carolina growers plan to put 1.8 million acres of soybeans in the ground, or 9% more than last year. Virginia intends on 680,000 acres or 13% more than 2021.

Nationally

Corn planted area for all purposes in 2022 is estimated at 89.5 million acres, down 4% or 3.87 million acres from last year. Compared with last year, planted acreage is expected to be down or unchanged in 43 of the 48 estimating States.

Soybean planted area for 2022 is estimated at a record 91.0 million acres, up 4% from last year. Compared with last year, planted acreage is up or unchanged in 24 of the 29 estimating States.