WASHINGTON — Planted area for corn and soybeans in 2010 was estimated to be up 2% from 2009 while area for all wheat was down 8% and the lowest since 1971, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in today’s annual Acreage report.
The U.S.D.A. number for corn was below the average of trade expectations, but U.S.D.A. numbers for soybeans, all wheat, durum and other spring wheat all were above average trade expectations.


Area planted to corn was estimated at 87,872,000 acres, down 926,000 acres, or 1%, from March intentions but up 1,390,000 acres, or 2%, from 86,482,000 acres in 2009, the U.S.D.A. said. Corn area for harvest was estimated at 81,005,000 acres, up 1,415,000 acres, or 2%, from 79,590,000 acres a year ago. The corn planted area was below trade expectations that averaged near 89.3 million acres. Corn planted area would be the second highest since 1946 after the record 2007 crop, the U.S.D.A. said.

Soybean planted area was estimated at 78,868,000 acres, up 770,000 acres, or 1%, from March intentions and up 1,417,000 acres, or 2%, from 77,451,000 acres last year, the U.S.D.A. said. Area for harvest was estimated at 77,986,000 acres, up 1,614,000 acres, or 2%, from 76,372,000 acres in 2009. Both planted area and area for harvest if realized would be record large, the U.S.D.A. said. The soybean planted area was above the average trade estimate of 78.3 million acres.

Area seeded to spring wheat other than durum was estimated at 13,907,000 acres, up only 1,000 acres from March intentions but up 639,000 acres, or 5%, from 13,268,000 acres in 2009. Area intended for harvest was estimated at 13,590,000 acres, up 635,000 acres, or 5%, from 12,955,000 acres in 2009.

Durum seeded area was estimated at 2,675,000 acres, up 452,000 acres, or 20%, from March and up 121,000 acres, or 5%, from 2,554,000 acres in 2009. Durum area for harvest was estimated at 2,588,000 acres, up 160,000 acres, or 7%, from 2,428,000 acres in 2009.

Winter wheat planted area was estimated at 37,723,000 acres, up 25,000 acres from 37,698,000 acres indicated in March and in the June Crop Production report but down 5,588,000 acres, or 13%, from 43,311,000 acres last year. Harvested area was estimated at 32,085,000 acres, up 299,000 acres, or 1%, from 31,786,000 acres in the June Crop Production report but down 2,400,000 acres, or 7%, from 34,485,000 acres in 2009.

All wheat planted area was estimated at 54,305,000 acres, up 478,000 acres, or 1%, from March intentions but down 4,828,000 acres, or 8%, from 59,133,000 acres in 2009. Harvest area was estimated at 48,263,000 acres, down 1,605,000 acres, or 3%, from 49,868,000 acres a year ago.

Rice plantings were estimated at 3,512,000 acres, up 101,000 acres, or 3%, from March intentions and up 377,000 acres, or 12%, from 3,135,000 acres in 2009. Harvested area was estimated at 3,493,000 acres, up 390,000 acres, or 13%, from 3,103,000 acres in 2009.