Georgia farm report, vol. 96, no. 07 (1996 April 2)

GEORGIA FARM REPORT
April 2, 1996 Volume 96-Number 07

I 1
GEORGIA 'AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE
Stephens Federal Building Suite 320 Athens, Georgia 30613 Phone: (706)546-2236

GEORGIA'S 1996 PROSPECTIVE P L A N T I N G r -
For the first time in 7 years, Georgia farmers are planning a decrease in cotton acreage. A survey of grower's planting intentions during the first two weeks of March indicate that peanut acreage is also expected to decline, for the third consecutive year. Growers are planning significant expansions in corn, sorghum, wheat and soybeans, with more modest increases expected for tobacco and oats. The new farm bill, commodity prices and available contracts, weather conditions and even this report will affect producers final planting decisions.
COTTON ACREAGE DOWN 8 PERCENT
Cotton producers plan to decrease their plantings to 1,380,000 acres for 1996, 8 percent or 120,000 less than in 1995. If these plans hold true, cotton acreage in Georgia will show the first reduction since 1989. Although cotton markets continue favorable, profit potentials for several other grain crops are causing farmers to look at alternatives.
PEANUTS DOWN 6 PERCENT
Peanut acreage this year is expected to decline by 6 percent to 560,000 acres, according to growers plans in early March. This would be the third year in a row of declining peanut acreage in Georgia and would be the smallest acreage in 14 years. With a decrease in

the support price and the uncertainty in the quota, many producers are looking to reduce peanut acreage.
CORN PLANTINGS JUMP 45 PERCENT
Corn plantings in Georgia for 1996 are expected to total, 580,000 acres, a significant jump of 45 percent or 180,000 acres from the previous year's record low. Growers, responding to the highest price in several years, are planning the first acreage increase in four years. The expected plantings would still be 20,000 acres less than two years ago. Corn planting has been delayed this spring by cold, damp weather. As of March 24, only 14 percent had been planted, about a week behind normal progress.
TOBACCO UP 7 PERCENT
Tobacco growers also are planning an expansion in acreage from last year, following an increase in the effective poundage quota. Acreage for 1996 is expected to total 45,000, seven percent above 1995 and 22 percent more than two years earlier. Under marketings from the 1995 crop accounted for the increase in the effective quota. Transplanting is off to a slow start because of the cold conditions with only 4 percent completed as of March 24.
SOYBEAN ACRES TO INCREASE BY 16 PERCENT
Soybean acreage for 1996 is expected to increase by 16 percent or 50,000 acres to 370,000 acres in Georgia. If these early projections prove accurate, soybean acreage will still be the second lowest in the past 30 years.

1996 GEORGIA PROSPECTIVE PLANTlNGS

Crop

Planted Acreaae

Intended

1994

1995

1996

1996 as % of 1995

-Thousands-

Percent

Corn, All

600

400

580

145

Cotton

885

1,500

1,380

92

Hay. AII"

650

600

600

100

oats2'

80

75

80

107

Peanuts

652

595

560

94

Sorghum, All

65

55

80

145

Soybeans

520

320

370

116

Sweetpotatoes

2.5

3

2.5

83

TObacco"

37

42

45

107

meatz

440

350

400

114

11 A c r e a g e harvested 2 / l n c l u d e s a c r e a g e + ! a n t e d ~ r e c e d ~ nfagll

1996 UNITED STATES PROSPECTIVE PLANTINGS

Crop

Planted Acreaae

Intend5d

1994

1995 1996

1996 as Oh of 1995

-Thousands-

Corn

79,175

Sorghum

9,827

Oats

6,639

Barley

7,159

All Wheat

70,349

Wnter M e a t

49,197

Soybeans

61,670

Peanuts

1,641 .O

All Cotton

13,720 1

All Hay

58,735

Swee~potatoes 86.1

All ~ o b a c c o 21 671. I

71,245 9,454 6,336 6,689
69,177 48,726 62,575 1,538.5 16,932.4 59,779
88.6 675.3

79,920 10,626 5,298
7,242 73,108 52,006 62,478 1,459.0 15,246 5 59,037
90.0 71 9.8

Percent
112 112 84 108 106 107 100 95 90 99 10~ - 2 107

11 I n t e n d e d p l a n t ~ n g sIn 1 9 9 6 a s l n d l c a t e d b y r e p o r t s from farmers. 21 Area harvested

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICIAN AND GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

GEORGIA HOG INVENTORY DOWN 5 PERCENT
All hogs and pigs on Georgia farms as of March 1 , 1996, are estimated at 900,000 head, 5 percent below a year ago and 3 percent below the previous quarter.
Breeding inventory at 130,000 head, is 4 percent below a year ago but unchanged from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory at 770,000 head, is 6 percent below a year ago and 4 percent below December I , 1995.
The December 1995-February 1996 pig crop totaled 336,000 head, 7 percent less than a year earlier. Pigs saved per litter averaged 8.00 compared with 7.85 last year.
Georgia producers intend to farrow 45,000 sows during the March-May 1996 quarter, 8 percent below the previous year. During June-August 1996, 43,000 sows are expected to farrow, down 4 percent from a year earlier.
U.S. HOG INVENTORY UP SLIGHTLY
U.S. inventory o f all hogs and pigs on i arch 1 , 1996, was 58.6 million head. This was slightly above March 1995 but 2 percent below the December 1, 1995, inventory.
Breeding inventory, at 6.95 million head, was down 1 percent from March 1 , 1995, and down 2 percent from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 51.6 million head, was slightly above March 1 , 1995, but 2 percent below December 1 , 1995.

The December 1995-February 1996 U.S. pig crop was
a record high 24.1 million head, 1 percent more than 1995 and up 3 percent from the same period in 1994. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.86 million head, down 1 percent from both last year and two years ago. Pigs saved per litter were a record high 8.42 compared to 8.27 during the same period a year
ago. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 6.92 for operations with 1-99 hogs to 8.80 for operations with 2,000 or more hogs and pigs.

U.S. hog producers intend to have 3.21 million sows
farrow during the March-May 1996 quarter, 1 percent
less than the actual farrowings during the same
period last year and 5 percent below 1994. Intended farrowings for June-August 1996, at 3.02 million sows, are slightly above 1995 but 3 percent below the 1994 period.

17 STATE INVENTORY DOWN SLIGHTLY

The 17 Quarterly states, with an inventory of 54.0 million on March I , 1996,were down slightly from last year but 2 percent above March 1, 1994. These 17

states accounted for approximately 92 percent of the total U.S. hog and pig inventory. In the 17 ~ u a r t e r l y

States, the December-February pig crop was 22.3 million head, up 2 percent from last year and up 4

percent from two vears aao. There were 2.64 million

SOWS that farrowed du*ing December-February,

Slightly less than the previous

Years. ~ o w s

faflowing during D e c e m b e r - ~ e b r u a r y1996 in the 17 States averaged 8.45 pigs per litter, compared to 8.29 during the same period a year ago.

HOGS AND PIGS--INVENTORY NUMBER SOWS FARROWING AND PIG CROP .

I GEORGIA AND 17 QUARTERLY STATES ", AND UNITED STATES-1 995-1996

Georgia

1996 as %

17 States

l~;;,",:"

United States

1996 as %

Item

1995

1996 of 1995 1995

1996

1995

1996 of 1995

-1,000 Head- Percent -1,000 Head-

Percent

-1.000 Head-

Percent

MARCH 1 INVENTORY

All Hogs and Pigs

950

900

Kept for Breeding

135

130

Market

81 5

770

95

54,070

54,010

96

6,360

6,400

94

47,710

47,610

MARKET HOGS AND PlGS BY WEIGHT GROUPS
Under 60 Pounds 60-119 Pounds 120-179 Pounds 180 Pounds & Over

SOWS FARROWING December a-~ebruary ~arch-~ay~'
~ e c e mber z-~ay~'
June-August
Septem ber-November June-Novem ber

PIG CROP

December '-February

361

336

March-May

397

December 2 - ~ a y

758

June-August

367

Septem ber-Novem ber

359

June-November

726

93

21,927

22,303

102

25,051

46.978

23,028

22,559

45,587

23,860 27,120
50.980 25,007 24,480 49,487

24,063

101

PIGS PER LITTER
December "-February March-May2,
December -May June-August
Septern ber-Novem ber June-Novem ber

--NUMBER-

7 85

8 00.

102

8 10

7 98

8 15

8 35

8 25

--NUMBER-

8 29

8 45

102

8 34

8 32

8 34

8 35

--NUMBER-

827 ,

8.42

102

8 32

8 29

8 32

8 33

8 34

8 32

11 AR G A IL IN I A KS KY MI MN MO NC NE OH OK PA SD,WI 21December p r e c e d ~ n gyear 31 lntentlons for 1996 41 Actdal f a r r o w ~ n g sfor December-February 1996 p i u s r n t e n t ~ o ntidr ~ a r c h - 1~9a96~
2

GEORGIA PRICES RECEIVED
The Georgia Prices Received All Commodity Index for March was 145 percent of the 1977 average, unchanged from the previous month and 15 points (11.5 percent) more than a year ago. Price gains from February for corn, hogs, calves and table eggs offset price declines for cotton, beef cattle, other chickens and broilers. Hatching egg prices were unchanged.
U.S. PRICES RECEIVED INDEX UP 2 POINTS
The All Farm Products lndex of Prices Received in March was 108 based on 1990-92= 100, up 2 points (1.9 percent) from February. Price gains from February for corn, lettuce, tomatoes, and hogs more than offset price declines for broilers, cattle, and several fruit commodities. The seasonal changes in the mix of commodities farmers sell also affect the overall index level. However, these changes were essentially offsetting in March.

Compared with March 1995, the Ail Farm Products lndex was 9 points (9.1 percent) higher. Price increases from March 1995 for corn, hogs, soybeans, and wheat more than offset price decreases for cattle, calves, and several vegetables.

INDEX NUMBER-GEORGIA AND UNITED STATES
Feb. Mar. Feb. Mar. 1995 1995 1996 1996

GEORGIA (1977= 100)

Prices Received

All Commodities

130

130

145

Crops

125

126

150

Livestock 8 Products

134

134

141

UNITED STATES (1990-92= 100)

Prices Received

97

99

106

" Prices-Paid I'
Ratro

108

108

113

90

92

94

145 151 ' 140
108 113 96

11 P r l c e s ald I n d e x e s ( 1 9 9 0 - 9 2 = 1 0 0 ) p u b l s h e d m o n t h l y b e g l n n l n g J a n u a r y 1 9 9 6 ~ n B e x e sfor 1 9 9 5 were constructed for hlstorlcal z o m p a r l s o n 21 Ratlo of Index of prlces r e c e ~ v e dby f a r m e r s to ~ n d e xof p r ~ c e sp a ~ d

Commodity
Winter Wheat Oats Corn Cotton Cottonseed Tobacco Soybeans All Hay, Baled2' Hogs
Sows Barrows & Gilts Beef cattle3' cows4/ Steers & Heifers Calves All ~ i l k ~ l ~urke~s" Chickens Excl. Broilersz1 Com'l Broilers7/ ECJ~S~, 1 1 ~ ' ~ '
able"

PRICES RECEIVED BY FARMERS--MARCH 15,1996 WITH COMPARISONS

I Price

Georaia

I

United States

Per

Mar.

~eb':

Mar. 15,

Mar.

Feb.

Unit

1995

1996

1996

1995

1996

Mar. 15, 1996

. c e p t A k T X 81 Average'of a l l e g g s sold b y f a i m e r s including h a t c h t n g e g g s h n d e y g e sold at retall

-
Month

STOCKS OF PEANUTS AND SPECIFIED PRODUCTS AT MONTH'S END-1995-1996 "

Roasting Stock

Farmer Stock Equivalen&

Ending-_-- Farmer Stocks

Shelled Peanuts 2'

(In Shell)

-1,000 Pounds-

Shelled Peanuts -T- otal

1995 Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.

May June July Aug . Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

1996 Jan. Feb.

1,787,981 1,465,747

497,002 51 2,525

39,732 49,672

661,013 681,658

2,488,726 2,197,077

11 E x c l u d e s stocks o l f a r m s I n c l u d e s stocks o w n e d by or held for a c c o u n t of CCC In c ~ m m e r c l a lstorages F a r m e r stock on n e t w e ~ g h tb a c ~ s 21 I n c l u d e s shelled e d ~ b l eg r a d e s , s h e l l e d 011stock a n d shelled s e e d (untrea!ed) 31 Actual f a r n e r stock p l u s roastlng stack p l u s shelled p e a n u t s X 1 33
3

GEORGIA GRAIN STOCKS

Georgia soybeans stored in all positions on March 1 , 1996 totaled 8.63 million bushels, 22 percent less than at the same time a year earlier. Soybeans held in off farm storage facilities amounted to 8.03million
b u s h e l s , 12 p e r c e n t l e s s t h a n M a r c h 1 , 1995. Soybeans stored o n t h e farm o n March 1 , 1996
totaled 600,000bushels, only 32 percent of 1.9million
bushels on hand a year earlier.

Georgia wheat stored in off farm positions on March
1 , 1996 is estimated at 2.21 million bushels, 8 percent more than the 2.05 million bushels on hand March 1,1996.
Oat stocks stored off Georgia farms on March 1 , 1996 totaled 156,000 bushels, compared with 121,000
bushels in off farm positions a year earlier.

Corn stocks held off the farm in Georgia on March 1 , 1996 totaled 7.01 million bushels, 14 percent less than the previous year.

GEORGIA GRAIN S T O C K S 4 A R C H 1,1995-1 996

Grain

On Farms

Mar. 1,

Mar. 1,

1995

1996

Off Farms 'I

Mar. 1,

Mar. 1,

1995

1996

All Positions

Mar. 1,

Mar. 1,

1995

1996

-1,000 Bushels-

Corn Soybeans Wheat Oats Sorghum Barley

1,900

8,201

600

9,173

2,048

121

7,014 8,029 2,213
156 18 34

11,073

11 I n c l u d e s stocks at m ~ l l s elevators w a r e h o u s e s terrnlnals a n d processors ' N o t p u b l i s h e d to avoid d l s c l o s ~ n gindlvldual operations

8,629 34

UNITED STATES STOCKS

United States corn stocks in all positions on March 1 , 1996,totaled 3.80 billion bushels, 32 percent below a year earlier. Of the total stocks, 2.00 billion bushels

million bushels, down 33 percent from last March, while off-farm stocks, at 602 million, are down 5
percent.

are stored on farms, 43 percent below last year. Off-farm stocks, at 1.80billion bushels, are 14 percent
below a year earlier.
T h e U S . a l l wheat s t o c k s o n M a r c h 1 , 1996, is
est~rnatedat 826 m i l l ~ o nbushels in all pos~tionsd, own
1 5 percent from March 1 , 1995. This is the lowest
March 1 total since the reference date was changed in
t h e 1986-87 market~ngyear. Farm stocks are 224

Soybeans stored across the nation in all positions on
March I , 1996,totaled 1 .I9 billion bushels, 13 percent below holdings a year earlier. On-farm stocks, at 512 million bushels, were 19 percent below last March and
accounted for 43 percent o f the March 1, 1996, holdings. Off-farm stocks totaled 678 million bushels, 8 percent below last March.

Grain

UNITED STATES GRAIN S T O C K S 4 A R C H 1,1995-1 996

On Farms

Mar. 1,

Mar. 1,

Off Farms

Mar. 1,

Mar. 1 ,

1995

1996

1995

1996

All Positions

Mar. 1,

Mar. 1,

1995

1996

-1,000 Bushels-

Corn Wheat Soybeans Barley Oats Sorghum

3,502,000
335,250 635,300
86,800 78,400 74,620

2,000,200
223,550 512,000
58,825 57,050 33.000

2,089,693
633,823 734,898 106,156
70.575 206,312

1,798,598 602,290
677.756 117,607
55,250 129,271

5,591,693 969,073
1,370,198 192,956
148,975 280,932

3,798,798
825,840 1, I89,756
176,432
1 12,300 162,271

I E A '11 I n c l u d e s stocks at mills, elevators, w a r e h o u s e s , terrnlnals a n d processors

G e o r g ~ aF a r m R e p o r t ( I S N N 0 7 4 4 - 7 2 8 0 is p u b l i s h e d semi-monthly by t h e G e o r g ~ aAgricultural S t a t ~ s t i c sS e r v ~ c e A t h e n s GA 3 0 6 1 3 - 5 0 9 9 S e c o n d class p o s t a g e

p a i d at A t h e n s G A S u b s c r ~ p t ~ ofne e 4 1 0 per year e x c e t f r e e to d a t a c o n t r ~ b u t o r s P O S T M A S T E R S e n d a d d r e s s c h a n g e s to G e o r g i a Agricultural S t a t ~ s t i c s

S e r v ~ c e S t e p h e n s F e d e r a l B u ~ l d ~ n Sgu l t e 3 2 0 Athens

30613 5099

1

GEORGIA

SECOND-CLASS

AGRICULTURAL

POSTAGE PAID AT

STATISTICS

ATHENS, GA 30613

SERVICE

STEPHENS FEDERAL BLDG. SUITE 320 ATHENS, GEORGIA 30613