Corn planted for all purposes in Iowa is estimated at 13.5 million acres in 2017, up 200,000 acres from the March planting intentions, but down 400,000 acres from 2016. That’s a decline of 3%, according to USDA’s annual Planted Acreage Report, released June 30. The report is based on the government’s annual survey of farmers in early June.

“Many farmers in Iowa shifted acres to soybeans from corn,” says Greg Thessen, director of USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service’s Midwest Regional Office in Des Moines. “Nationally, farmers shifted acres to soybeans from corn and wheat.” Thessen supplied the four charts that accompany this article.

The shift to soybeans from corn reflects market prices near or below cost of production for most farmers, notes Iowa State University economist Chad Hart. But the market outlook looks more promising for soybeans than corn. Corn to be harvested for grain in Iowa is forecast at 13.1 million acres, down 400,000 acres from 2016, according to the USDA report.

Iowa soybean planted acreage a record
Iowa’s 2017 soybean acreage planted is estimated at 10 million acres, down 100,000 acres from the March intentions survey, but up 500,000 acres from the 2016 planted acreage— a 5% increase from a year ago.

Soybean acreage to be harvested this year is forecast at 9.95 million acres for Iowa.

Total dry hay expected to be harvested for 2017 is estimated at 1.11 million acres, up 110,000 from the March estimate and up 200,000 acres from 2016. Of the total, an estimated 740,000 acres of alfalfa and 370,000 acres of other hay are expected to be harvested for dry hay.

Acreage seeded to oats is estimated at 120,000 acres, down 15,000 from the March intentions but unchanged from 2016. Oat acreage expected to be harvested for grain is estimated at 48,000 acres, up 5,000 acres from 2016. 

Winter wheat planted acres are estimated at 20,000 acres, down 5,000 acres from 2016. Acreage of wheat to be harvested for grain in Iowa is forecast at 15,000 acres, down 2,000 from 2016.

Survey shows number of biotech acres
Producers in Iowa reported planting biotechnology corn hybrids on 93% of their 2017 corn acres, according to the survey. The percent of corn acreage planted to insect resistant (Bt) corn hybrids is estimated at 5%, herbicide-resistant hybrids were planted on 8% of the acres, and stacked-gene hybrids were planted on 80% of the acres.

Regarding biotech soybean varieties, the farmer survey shows 94% of Iowa’s 2017 soybean acres were planted with herbicide-resistant seed varieties.

Nationally, 3% fewer corn acres planted
Looking at the national picture, the corn planted area for all purposes in the U.S. in 2017 is estimated by USDA at 90.9 million acres, down 3% from last year.

Compared with last year, planted acres are down or unchanged in 38 of the 48 estimating states. Area harvested for corn grain, at 83.5 million acres nationally, is down 4% from last year.

Soybean planted acreage for 2017 is estimated at a record-high 89.5 million U.S. acres, up 7% from last year. Compared to last year, planted acreage intentions are up or unchanged in 24 of the 31 estimating states.

Lowest U.S. wheat acreage since 1919
All-wheat planted area for 2017 is estimated at 45.7 million acres in the U.S., down 9% from 2016. This represents the lowest all-wheat planted area on record since records began in 1919. The 2017 winter wheat planted area, at 32.8 million acres, is down 9% from last year but up less than 1% from the previous estimate. Of this total, about 23.8 million acres are hard red winter, 5.61 million acres are soft red winter, and 3.42 million acres are white winter.

Area planted to other spring wheat for 2017 is estimated at 10.9 million acres, down 6% from 2016. Of this total, about 10.3 million acres are hard red spring wheat. Durum planted area for 2017 is estimated at 1.92 million acres, down 20% from the previous year.

Iowa has large amount of corn in storage
USDA’s latest quarterly Grain Stocks Report was also released June 30. Iowa corn stocks in all positions on June 1, 2017, totaled 1.15 billion bushels, up 13% from June 1, 2016, according to that survey. This is the largest amount of corn in storage on June 1 since 1988. Of the total stocks, 57% were stored on-farm.

The March-May 2017 indicated disappearance totaled 566 million bushels, 10% above the 516 million bushels used during the same period last year. 

Iowa soybeans stored in all positions on June 1, 2017, totaled 178 million bushels, down 3% from the 184 million bushels on hand June 1, 2016. Of total stocks, 35% were stored on-farm. Indicated disappearance for March-May 2017 is 131 million bushels, 9% less than the 145 million bushels used during the same quarter last year. Iowa oats stored on-farm totaled 510,000 bushels, down 31% from June 1, 2016.

U.S. corn stocks up 11% from year ago
Corn stocks in all positions in the U.S. on June 1, 2017, totaled 5.23 billion bushels, up 11% from June 1, 2016. Of the total stocks, 2.84 billion bushels of corn are stored on farms, up 15% from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 2.38 billion bushels, are up 6% from a year ago. The March-May 2017 indicated disappearance is 3.40 billion bushels, compared with 3.11 billion bushels during the same period last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions nationwide on June 1, 2017, totaled 963 million bushels, up 11% from June 1, 2016.

On-farm stocks in the U.S. totaled 333 million bushels, up 18% from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 631 million bushels, are up 7% from a year ago. Indicated disappearance for the March-May 2017 quarter totaled 775 million bushels, up 18% from the same period a year earlier.

All wheat stored in all positions on June 1, 2017, totaled 1.18 billion bushels nationally, up 21% from a year ago. On-farm stocks are estimated at 192 million bushels, down 3% from last year. Off-farm stocks, at 993 million bushels, are up 28% from a year ago. The March-May 2017 indicated disappearance is 472 million bushels, up 19% from the same period a year earlier.