We have about 3.8 million acres planted [in the state].
We average 110 bushels per acre, and that number continues to grow because
of technology. This year we're going to hit 380 million to 400 million
bushels. The last few years we've averaged over 400 million bushels, and
it may be lower this year because we haven't had as much rain.
Lisa Richardson, Executive Director
South Dakota Corn Council and Corn Growers—Sioux Falls, S.D.
One problem with trying to categorize the situation is the
extreme variation in conditions across the state. Crops this year are
going to be far below average in most of the state. The northeast looks
good—the best region of the state. I'm guessing there'll be over
30 bushels per acre. The far east is also about average. The golden triangle,
from Great Falls to Shelby over to Havre, is in pretty rough shape. Some
of it is not cut-able because of drought and bugs—mostly drought.
Central Montana moisture conditions remain poor and much of the wheat
and barley has been destroyed. Northwest Montana has also been very dry
this year and crop conditions are poor.
Brain Dennis, MarketManager Program Coordinator
Montana Grain Growers Association—Great Falls, Mont.
About 3,000 acres of potatoes will be harvested in
the Upper Peninsula yielding 280 hundredweight per acre, or 84 million
pounds of potatoes. They're having an average crop. No real problems
in the area. They had a late spring—it was wet and cool and
that caused some crop delays, which may cut the yields.
Ben Kudwa, Executive Director Michigan Potato Industry—De
Witt, Mich.
This year will be an average crop for most of the state,
about 42 bushels per acre. Last year's crop was above average at 47 bushels
per acre. There were lots of acres that weren't planted this year in northern
Minnesota. Kittson, Marshall and Roseau counties had a wet and cool spring.
Those counties planted about 50 percent of their [usual] crop, based on
average planted acres.
Dave Torgerson, Executive Director
Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers—Red Lake Falls, Minn.
We expect to harvest 2.3 million acres within the state.
It is a 21 percent increase over last year, which was a 33-bushel yield.
Farmers pay one-half percent of the value on their sales, so that means
more dollars will be collected [by the association] ... for soybean promotion,
education and research. One reason [acres harvested] has gone up is because
the government loan payments favor the oilseed crops—soybeans.
Deborah Escen, Executive Director
North Dakota Soy Bean Growers Association—Fargo, N.D.
There's a volume regulation on the crop this year ... because
we have an oversupply of cranberries. Growers will be limited to delivering
65 percent of their allotment based on what they sold in the past. A federal
market order through the Department of Agriculture has restricted production.
It's difficult to predict what will come out of Wisconsin ... the state
is looking at about 2.5 million barrels. The average full crop is 3 million
barrels. The best year was 3.3 million barrels in 1999. In 2000, growers
were allowed to market 85 percent of their crop. Hopefully, in the long
run it'll be a benefit to growers.
Tom Lochner, Executive Director
Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association—Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
