USDA Increases Planted Corn Estimate To 96M Acres

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture says farmers planted 96.4 million acres of corn this spring, up 5 percent from last year.

It's the largest number of planted acres since 97 million in 1937. The revised estimate, based on early June farm surveys, is up from May's estimate of nearly 92 million acres.

The USDA says farmers expect to make more profit from corn than other commodities.

Iowa corn acres fell to 14 million from 14.1 million. Illinois rose to 13 million from 12.6 million. Nebraska rose to 9.9 million from 9.85 million.

Record corn acreage is expected in Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon and South Dakota.

The USDA estimates 76.1 million acres are planted in soybeans. That's up 1 percent from 2011 and the third highest on record.

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