News

2019 acre expectations a moving target

An ag risk manager expects a two million acre increase in corn at the expense of soybeans in 2019.

Jamey Kohake with Paragon Investments is like many in the industry forecasting more corn and fewer beans because of current prices.

“I would expect more than 2 million more corn acres this year, especially if we can get another 10 to 20 cent rally on the futures.”

He tells Brownfield the reduction in soybean acres could be more pronounced in certain areas.

“North Dakota, Kansas, Missouri (and) Oklahoma are where you could maybe see more of the shift. Based on prices, it’s just going to be too easy for the marginal acres to go corn on corn and see what happens.”

The University of Illinois is projecting soybean planted acreage at 86.5 million, nearly 3 million acres lower than 2018.

In its November estimate, USDA forecast corn acres up 2 million from last year at 92 million.