United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service Crop News Release In Cooperation with the Georgia Department of Agriculture Georgia Field Office 355 East Hancock Avenue, Suite 320 Athens, GA 30601 (706) 546-2236 www.nass.usda.gov March 31, 2010 Media Contact: Douglas G. Kleweno nass-ga@nass.usda.gov 2010 PROSPECTIVE PLANTINGS IN GEORGIA Corn Plantings are expected to total 380,000 acres in 2010; down 10% from 2009. Cotton Growers intend to plant 1,150,000 acres in 2010; up 15% from last year. Hay All hay acres expected to be harvested for hay in 2010 estimated at 780,000; up 80,000 acres from 2009. Largest acres since 1955's 924,000 acres. Oats Growers intend to plant 45,000 acres in 2010; down 15,000 acres from 2009. Peanuts Growers intend to plant 540,000 acres, up 6% from 2009. Sorghum Growers expect to plant 50,000 acres in 2010, down 9% from 2009. Soybean plantings, at 320,000 acres are expected to decrease 150,000 acres from 2009. Flue-cured tobacco growers expect to plant 10,000 acres in 2010; down 29% from 2009. Winter wheat plantings totaled 200,000 acres in 2010; down 140,000 acres from 2009. Georgia and United States 2009-2010 Prospective Plantings Georgia United States Crop 2009 2010 % Change 2009 2010 % Change 1,000 Acres +/- 1,000 Acres +/- Corn 420 380 - 10 86,482 88,798 +3 Cotton 1,000 1,150 + 15 9,149 10,505 +15 Hay 700 780 + 11 59,755 60,460 +1 Oats 60 45 - 25 3,404 3,364 -1 Peanuts 510 540 + 6 1,116 1,201 +8 Sorghum 55 50 - 9 6,633 6,360 -4 Soybeans 470 320 - 32 77,451 78,098 +1 Tobacco: Flue-cured 14 10 - 29 224 207 -8 Wheat, Winter 340 200 - 41 43,311 37,698 -13 Source: USDA-NASS, Prospective Plantings, March 31, 2010. All reports are available, at no cost, on the NASS web site: http://www.nass.usda.gov USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. continued *Intentions Georgia Corn Plantings 600 (Thousand Acres) 510 500 400 340 340 335 300 265 280 270 420 380 370 200 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010* Georgia Cotton Plantings 1600 (Thousand Acres) 1490 1450 1400 1400 1300 1290 1220 1200 1150 1000 1030 1000 940 800 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010* Georgia Peanut Plantings (Thousand Acres) 800 755 700 620 600 545 515 510 500 690 580 530 540 510 400 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010* Georgia Soybean Plantings (Thousand Acres) 500 470 430 400 320 295 300 280 200 190 165 160 180 155 100 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010*