US: 2011 barley acreage to be the second lowest on record - USDA

USDA announced on April, 1 the 2011 farmer planting intentions of 2.95 million acres of barley, a minor increase over last year.

US barley producers intend to seed 2.95 million acres of barley for the 2011 crop year, up 3 percent from the 2.87 million acres seeded in 2010. If realized, this will be the second lowest seeded acreage on record, USDA said.

Area seeded to barley is expected to increase by 10,000 acres in Idaho and Montana, two of the three largest barley-producing States. The largest decrease in acreage is expected in North Dakota, where producers intend to seed 690,000 acres, a reduction of 30,000 acres from last year's record low.

The expected decrease is largely driven by a decline in barley prices from recent years and the increased profitability of other crops such as corn and soybeans. Seeded area is also anticipated to decline to record low levels in Kansas, Michigan, and South Dakota.

In 2009, the nation planted to barley a total of 3.57 mln acres.

06 April, 2011