USDA said it's expecting 87 million acres of corn plantings in 2007, 10% more than the department forecast just a few weeks ago, and the highest corn plantings in 60 years. This would yield a 12.2-billion bushel crop, and it's all driven by ethanol demand for corn. Corn productivity is estimated to hit $334 per acre, a 70% leap from last year's $209 per acre. Keith Collins, USDA's chief economist said demand by ethanol refiners for corn will increase 50% this year, the result being a record-high corn price of $3.60 per bushel. The losers in the acreage battle are soybeans and upland cotton, Collins said, with bean acres dropping about 5 million to its lowest level since 1990. Wheat plantings will increase about 2.7 million acres.