07/02/07 Second highest ever corn acreage for Washington

Washington Ag July 2, 2007 Farmers across the country including Washington have responded to high corn prices, fueled in part by the ethanol industry, by increasing their planted acreage this year. While grain corn acreage in Washington is miniscule compared to the 92.9 million acres planted nationally, Chris Messer of the Washington Bureau of the Agricultural Statistics Service, says corn acreage took a jump here. Messer: "Planted acres of field corn are up 43% from last year to 200-thousand acres. This ties the acres planted in 1984 but it is 20-thousand less than the record set in 1982. Field corn acres to be harvested for grain is up 73% to 130-thousand acres." While winter wheat acres to be harvested are down ten thousand from 2006 at 1.79 million acres, Messer says harvested spring wheat acres are expected to be up 20-thousand over last year. As for barley. Messer: "Washington barley acres for harvest is up 18% to 225-thousand acres." Harvested acres for alfalfa and dry beans are forecast to be down from last year. Overall, Messer says the land area in Washington planted to principal crops this year is up two percent over 2006 at three-million 728-thousand acres. I'm Bob Hoff.