CORN AND SOYBEAN PLANTING UP, WHEAT DOWN

Based on USDA report

Corn acreage planted for all purposes this season is up 3% from a year ago to 81.0 million acres, with growers expecting to harvest about 73.4 million acres for grain. For soybeans, the area planted is estimated to be about 74.8 million acres, about 602,000 less than the March planting intentions report, but 2% more than planted a year ago and the second largest planted area on record.

All wheat planted area is estimated at 59.9 million acres, with harvested area estimated at 50.7 million acres, down 4% from a year ago. 2004 winter wheat area, at 43.5 million acres, is 3% below a year ago, but just slightly ahead of from the March estimate. Acreage planted to other spring wheat is set at 13.7 million acres, down from 2003.