WASHINGTON — Planted area to corn, soybeans and durum was up from a year ago while spring wheat area was down, according to data in today’s U.S. Department of Agriculture annual Acreage report.

Area planted to corn was estimated at 96,405,000 acres, up 541,000 acres from March intentions, up 4,484,000 acres, or 5%, from 91,921,000 acres in 2011, and the highest on record since 1937, the U.S.D.A. said. Corn area for harvest was estimated at 88,851,000 acres, up 4,870,000 acres, or 6%, from 83,981,000 acres a year ago.

The corn planted area was above the average of trade expectations of 95,962,000 acres.

Soybean planted area was estimated at 76,080,000 acres, up 2,178,000 acres, or 3%, from March intentions, and up 1,104,000 acres, or 1%, from 74,976,000 acres last year, the U.S.D.A. said. It would be the third largest planted area on record. Area for harvest was estimated at 75,315,000 acres, up 1,679,000 acres, or 2%, from 73,636,000 acres in 2011.

The soybean planted area also was above the average trade pre-report estimate of 75,575,000 acres.

Durum seeded area was estimated at 2,203,000 acres, down 20,000 acres, or 1%, from March but up 834,000 acres, or 61%, from 1,369,000 acres in 2011. Durum area for harvest was estimated at 2,122,000 acres, up 810,000 acres, or 62%, from 1,312,000 acres in 2011.

Area seeded to spring wheat other than durum was estimated at 11,995,000 acres, up 19,000 acres from March intentions but down 399,000 acres, or 3%, from 12,394,000 acres in 2011. Area intended for harvest was estimated at 11,681,000 acres, down 398,000 acres, or 3%, from 12,079,000 acres in 2011. Total hard red spring wheat planted area was estimated at 11.4 million acres, the U.S.D.A. said.

Winter wheat planted area was estimated at 41,819,000 acres, up 1,173,000 acres, or 3%, from 40,646,000 acres a year ago. Harvested area was estimated at 35,023,000 acres, down 557,000 acres, or 2%, from 35,580,000 acres in the June Crop Production report but up 2,709,000 acres, or 8%, from 32,314,000 acres in 2011. Area planted to hard red winter wheat was 30 million acres, to soft red winter was 8.3 million acres and to white winter was 3.5 million acres, the U.S.D.A. said.

All wheat planted area was estimated at 56,017,000 acres, up 109,000 acres from 55,908,000 acres indicated in March and up 1,608,000 acres, or 3%, from 54,409,000 acres a year ago. Harvest area was estimated at 48,826,000 acres, up 3,121,000 acres, or 7%, from 45,705,000 acres a year ago.
U.S.D.A. planting estimate for spring wheat, durum and all wheat were below average trade expectations.