OHIO AG STATISTICS RELEASES CORN & SOYBEAN NUMBERS

Acres planted in 2004 to increase

A March 1 intentions survey conducted by the Ohio Agricultural Statistics Service indicates state farmers intend to plant more corn, soybeans and tobacco acreage in 2004, while reducing wheat and oats.

The State's corn growers intend to plant 3.4 million acres this spring, 100,000 acres more than were planted in 2003. Soybean acreage is forecast at 4.35 million acres, up 50,000 from last year.

Corn stocks in all positions in Ohio on March 1, 2004 totaled 247.3 million bushels, 32% above the 187.4 million bushels stored the previous year at this time.

Ohio soybean stocks totaled 51.1 million bushels, down 29% from March 1, 2003. On-farm storage is at 19 million bushels accounting for 37% of the total storage compared to 47 % last year. Off-farm storage decreased by 16% from March 1, 2003 to 32.1 million bushels.