Wisconsin Soybean News

State Growers Planning More Corn, Less Soybeans

FEBRUARY 5, 2007 – WISCONSIN DELLS, WIS. – Corn acreage in Wisconsin will increase substantially this spring at the expense of soybeans according to a survey conducted at the 2007 Corn/Soy EXPO Wisconsin Dells last week.

The random survey, which was conducted at the Corn/Soy EXPO registration desk, shows nearly 60 percent of respondents plan to increase corn acreage while the remainder plan to keep their crop mix unchanged. Most significantly, those growers planning to expand corn production represent twice as many acres as those planning to leave their crop mix unchanged. Only two respondents indicated plans to decrease corn acreage.

The average survey respondent has crop acreage totaling 1,375 acres and is generally optimist about crop production for the upcoming season.

Rising costs of crop inputs, most notably fuel and fertilizers prices, were the top concerns cited in the Corn/Soy EXPO grower survey. Weather conditions and lack of moisture are also a concern for many crop producers as they look ahead to the 2007 growing season. Other concerns cited by Corn/Soy EXPO attendees include land rent costs, profit, Roundup resistant weeds and the storage and handling of those extra bushels of corn they will grow.
Wisconsin Corn/Soy EXPO ran February 1-2 at the Kalahari Conference Center, Wisconsin Dells and included general sessions on biofuels and farm policy, marketing sessions and educational breakouts on plant pests, fertility, technical trading strategies, carbon credits, crop insurance, farm safety and reduced tillage

Highlight of this year’s Corn/Soy EXPO Wisconsin Dells were Early Riser sessions conducted by Randy Fortenbery, UW Agricultural Economist and Moe Russell, business consultant from Panora, Iowa. Other interesting events included a large industry trade show, a session on maximizing yields of continuous corn and a lunch presentation by UW Band director Mike Leckrone and marching band members. Even Bucky Badger made a special, cameo appearance at Corn/Soy EXPO. The administrator of the USDA Farm Services Agency, Teresa Lasseter, presented the Administration’s farm policy proposals during Friday’s general session, marking the first public presentation of its kind.

Annual meetings were held by Wisconsin Corn Growers Association (WCGA), Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board (WCPB), Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA) and Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB) during Corn/Soy EXPO. Two special presentations for women also were well attended at this year’s event.

Several presentations from the 2007 Corn/Soy EXPO Wisconsin Dells are posted online at www.wisoybean.org and www.wicorn.org in PowerPoint format. For more information, call WSA and WSMB at 608-274-7522; WCGA and WCPB at 262-495-2232.