Today, USDA released its crop acreage planted report and acreage of all major commodities crops is estimated to be up slightly from 2012 except for cotton.
Corn planted area for all purposes in 2013 is estimated at 97.4 million acres, up slightly from last year. This represents the highest planted acreage in the United States since 1936 when an estimated 102 million acres were planted. Growers expect to harvest 89.1 million acres for grain, up 2% from last year.
Soybean planted area for 2013 is estimated at a record high 77.7 million acres, up 1% from last year. Area for harvest, at 76.9 million acres, is up 1% from 2012 and will be a record high, if realized. Record high planted acreage is estimated in New York, Pennsylvania and South Dakota.
All wheat planted area for 2013 is estimated at 56.5 million acres, up 1% from 2012. The 2013 winter wheat planted area, at 42.7 million acres, is 3% above last year and up 2% from the previous estimate. Of this total, about 29.4 million acres are Hard Red Winter, 9.96 million acres are Soft Red Winter, and 3.38 million acres are White Winter. Area planted to other spring wheat for 2013 is estimated at 12.3 million acres, up slightly from 2012. Of this total, about 11.7 million acres are Hard Red Spring wheat. The estimated Durum wheat planted area for 2013 is estimated at 1.54 million acres, down 28% from the previous year.
All cotton planted area for 2013 is estimated at 10.3 million acres, 17% below last year. Upland area is estimated at 10.0 million acres, down 17% from 2012. American Pima area is estimated at 226,000 acres, down 5% from 2012.