Estimated Increase in CO Corn Acres

According the USDA’s Prospective Plantings Report U.S. corn growers expect to plant 93.6 million acres to corn this year. This is the first increase in corn planted acreage in four years and if it happens as forecast — would be the third largest corn acreage since 1944. Despite lower prices, corn is still expected to provide higher returns this year compared to other crops.
Colorado Corn Communications Director Eric Brown says that the state corn acres are up this year, but that last year’s acres were lower to begin with.
Brown: “So we are looking at a 14 percent increase in corn acres here in Colorado. Again the prices thing —it sounds a little crazy that we’d be planting more corn with where the prices are but that 1.25 million acres that we are expected to plant this year — again is a 14 percent over last year but compared to the five-year average it is almost spot on. Our five-year average for planted acres is 1.28 million acres so we’re up about 2 percent. But comparing it to last year is looks like a big jump but last year was down. And there is still time as these are forecasts. USDA lists the usual corn planting dates as April 28th through May. There is not much as far as planting — physically going on. This is based on projections — we’ll see what happens. As of now looking like we are will have more acres of corn in Colorado.”