Growers intend to plant 84.6 million acres in 2019, down 5 percent from the 89.1 million acres planted last year, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service Prospective Plantings Report released March 29. Compared with last year, planted acreage intentions are down or unchanged in 26 of the 29 estimating States.
Decreases of 300,000 acres or more are anticipated in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Reports for Florida and West Virginia were discontinued for 2019.
The report is based primarily on surveys conducted by mail, Internet, phone or personal interviews during the first two weeks of March. Participants are selected from a sample of 82,400 farm operators.
Click here to read the complete U.S. Department of Agriculture NASS Prospective Plantings report.