By DOUG SCHMITZ

Iowa Correspondent

YANKTON, S.D. — Despite heavy rains and flooding, U.S. farmers planted an estimated 91.7 million acres of corn this year, up 3 percent from last June, while about 80 million acres of soybeans were seeded, down 10 percent from last June, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) annual Acreage report.

Released June 29, the report surprised farm analysts who estimated corn at 86.6 million acres, while soybeans were estimated at 84.3 million – according to Allendale, Inc., the lowest soybean-planted acreage since 2013.

The USDA said U.S. wheat plantings are estimated at 45.6 million acres, down 5 percent from last year and the lowest all-wheat planted area since records began being kept in 1919.

“(It was a) very active day with this surprise from the government,” Brian Hoops, president and senior market analyst at Midwest Market Solutions, Inc., told reporters in a Minneapolis Grain Exchange-sponsored teleconference. “Obviously, we’re seeing a lot of weakness in corn, and that’s going over to wheat futures.

“Corn is pretty much what everything hinges on here recently. The rally was predicated by corn. The soybeans and the wheat followed the market higher. Now, we have clients telling us because of the corn markets, they were inclined to plant more corn acres.”

The USDA also released its quarterly Grain Stocks report, reporting U.S. corn stocks totaled 5.2 billion bushels, down 2 percent from last June. On-farm corn stocks were up 7 percent from a year ago, but off-farm stocks were down 12 percent.

U.S. soybeans stored totaled 1.79 billion bushels, up 47 percent from June 2018. On-farm soybean stocks were up 94 percent from a year ago, while off-farm stocks were up 26 percent.

The USDA said all wheat stored totaled 1.07 billion bushels, down 2 percent from a year ago. On-farm all wheat stocks were up 58 percent, while off-farm stocks were down 11 percent.

In Illinois, growers have planted 11 million acres of corn, unchanged from 2018, with stocks totaling 9.65 million bushels, up 2 percent. Illinois soybeans planted were at 10.3 million acres, down 5 percent from June 2018, with stocks totaling 3.21 million bushels, up 28 percent.

The state’s June 24 crop report said corn emerged was at 84 percent, while soybeans were 79 percent planted.

In Indiana, farmers planted 5.5 million acres of corn, an increase of 150,000 acres from last year, with stocks totaling 3.46 million bushels, 10 percent above last June. Soybean acreage planted or to be planted is estimated at 5.3 million acres, 11 percent below last June.

State soybean stocks are at 1.16 million bushels, 54 percent higher than last June and a June 1 record high. The state’s June 24 crop report said corn is 91 percent planted, while soybeans are 75 percent along.

In Iowa, corn planted is estimated at 13.6 million acres, unchanged from the March USDA estimate but up 400,000 acres from last year, with stocks totaling 9.94 million bushels, down 9 percent from June 2018.

Iowa soybean acreage is estimated at 9.1 million acres, down 300,000 from the March estimate and 900,000 acres from last June, with soybean stocks totaling 3.02 million bushels, 37 percent above last June and the highest June 1 total on record.

The state’s June 24 crop report said 96 percent of Iowa’s corn had emerged, while 95 percent of soybeans were planted. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig said, “Now that most farmers are done planting, we need some warmer temperatures to help the crops catch up.”

In Kentucky, corn planted was at 1.65 million acres, up 23 percent from last year, the highest number planted since 2012.

“Too much rain was the big news story this year,” said David Knopf, Kentucky NASS Eastern Mountain regional office director, “but producers were able to plant most of their intended corn acres.”

Kentucky soybeans planted were estimated at 1.7 million acres, down 300,000 from 2018. (No grain stocks were reported.) The state’s June 24 crop report said 95 percent of corn had emerged, while 80 percent of soybeans had been planted.

In Michigan, corn growers planted 2.3 million acres, the same as last year but down 50,000 from the March estimate, while stocks totaled 98.9 million bushels, 3 percent lower than last June. Farmers also planted 2.1 million acres of soybeans, down 200,000 from last year, while stocks totaled 1.79 billion bushels, up 47 percent.

Michigan’s June 24 crop report said most producers have finished seeding corn, while soybean progress continued to be well below the five-year planting average.

In Ohio, corn growers planted 3.3 million acres, down 6 percent from 2018, while stocks totaled 1.95 million bushels, about 1 percent below 2018’s numbers. Soybean growers planted 4.7 million acres, down 6 percent, while stocks totaled 1.79 billion bushels, up 47 percent from last June.

The state’s June 24 crop report said corn is 80 percent planted, while soybeans are 65 percent in.

In Tennessee, corn acreage was estimated at 1 million acres, up a healthy 260,000 from 2018, while soybeans planted were estimated at 1.5 million acres, down 200,000. (No grain stocks in the state were reported.) Upland cotton acreage was estimated at 370,000, up 10,000 from 2018.

The state’s June 24 crop report said corn has 100 emerged, while soybeans are 90 percent planted, with cotton planted at 100 percent.

Lance Honig, USDA crops chief, said the agency will re-survey planted acreage in 14 states and may release updated acreage totals on August 12.