Tom Harkin: USDA Report Shows Farmers Exceed Corn Planting Expectations For 2007/08 Crop Year

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June 29, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, today issued the following statement on the acreage report released this morning by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The survey estimates that 92.9 million acres of corn have been planted nationally this spring.

“Farmers not only met, but exceeded the expectations in the Prospective Plantings report released just three months ago. The corn acreage announced today is at the highest level in over five decades. This demonstrates even more clearly that farmers will respond to market signals arising from the increased demand for corn and ethanol. And it further confirms that production and usage of biofuels can boost farm income, economic growth and jobs in rural communities while enhancing America’s energy security.

“This figure should further ease concerns about corn supplies this year to meet feed, food and fuel demands, though we all have to hope for good growing conditions the remainder of the season. Intensified crop production also reminds us of the necessity of sound farm conservation and environmental practices and the greater need for conservation support in the new farm bill.”

“Iowa farmers have traditionally led the nation in producing corn, accounting for more than 2 billion bushels of production in each of the last three years. If normal weather prevails in the 2007/08 crop year, these 13.9 million acres planted by Iowa farmers for grain should yield more than 2.4 billion bushels, based on recent trend yields. The most recent weekly Crop Progress report from USDA indicates that 78 percent of the Iowa corn crop is deemed to be in good or excellent condition thus far, suggesting strong prospects for a bumper Iowa corn crop this year.”

Source: Senator Tom Harkin