EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan farmers planted fewer corn acres and more soybean acres in 2021 than they did in 2020. The 2021 planting season was very favorable with good field conditions throughout April and May. Late frosts in May did necessitate some replanting, though this was easily accomplished. Even with replants, farmers in Michigan completed corn and soybean planting much more quickly than normal. Michigan corn growers planted 2.25 million acres, down 100,000 from last year. Harvested acres of corn for grain were set at 1.89 million acres, also down 100,000 from last year.
Michigan soybean growers planted 2.30 million acres, up 100,000 acres from last year. Growers expect to harvest 2.29 million acres of soybeans in 2021.
Winter wheat growers planted 620,000 acres in Michigan, up 130,000 acres from 2020. Harvested acres of winter wheat for grain are anticipated to be 570,000 acres, up 120,000 acres from last year.
Small Grains Summary
Michigan’s 2021 winter wheat production is forecast at 43.9 million bushels. This report is based on conditions as of July 1, 2021. Some highlights of the Crop Production Report follow:
The Michigan winter wheat yield is forecast at 77 bushels per acre, down 3 bushels from the previous month but up 2 bushels from last year. As of June 27, twenty percent of the crop was mature, 3 points above the 5-year average. Generally, the crop was in good shape with 59 percent of the crop rated in good to excellent condition compared with 62 percent at the same time last year. Farmers report reduced yield projections from the June 1 forecast due to very dry weather during grain fill.
Oat yield in Michigan is forecast at 53 bushels per acre, down 2 bushels from last year. As of June 27, forty-six percent of the crop was rated in good to excellent condition, compared with 81 percent last year. The crop was 61 percent headed on June 27, sixteen points above the 5-year average.
May Agricultural Prices
Prices received by Michigan farmers for the full month of May 2021 are listed in the table below. Some Michigan highlights were: May corn, at $5.85 per bushel, increased $0.54 from April and increased $2.35 from last year; May soybeans, at $14.60 per bushel, $0.70 from last month and increased $6.01 from last year; May wheat, at $6.37 per bushel, increased $0.22 from April and increased $0.82 from last year; May milk, at $18.10 per cwt., increased $0.90 from last month and increased $6.00 from last year.
Biotechnology Varieties
The vast majority of corn and soybeans planted in Michigan continue to be varieties containing genetic modification. Biotechnology varieties accounted for 91 percent of the corn acres planted in Michigan, up 2 percentage points from last year. Soybean plantings included 93 percent biotechnology varieties, up 2 percentage points from last year.
Nationally, ninety-three percent of this year’s corn acreage was planted with biotechnology seed varieties, up 1 percent from last year. Producers planted 95 percent of the 2021 soybean acreage to herbicide resistant seed varieties, up 1 percentage point from 2020.
The data are based on responses from the June Agricultural Survey. Farmers were asked if they planted corn or soybeans that, through biotechnology, are resistant to herbicides, insects, or both. Conventionally bred herbicide resistant varieties are excluded. Insect resistant varieties include only those containing bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The Bt varieties include those that contain more than one gene that can resist different types of insects. Stacked gene varieties include only those containing biotech traits for both herbicide and insect resistance.
June 1 Grain Stocks
On June 1, 2021, Michigan corn stocks totaled 80.9 million bushels, 19 percent lower than a year earlier. About 42 percent of the corn was stored on farms. The third quarter disappearance was 75.4 million bushels, compared with 33.4 million bushels a year earlier. Soybean stocks on June 1, 2021, were 21.4 million bushels. That was 46 percent lower than stocks a year earlier. The third quarter indicated disappearance was 24.4 million bushels, 21 percent of supply. Farm stocks of soybeans were 3.60 million bushels. Wheat stocks on June 1, 2021, were 13.9 million bushels, 38 percent below a year ago. Fourth quarter indicated disappearance was 9.42 million bushels, compared with 8.99 million bushels last year. End of marketing year stocks were approximately 25 percent of supply.
Chickens and Eggs
All layers in Michigan totaled 14.8 million during May, up 5 percent from a year ago. Egg production totaled 371 million eggs, up 3 percent from last year. The rate of lay during May was 2,504 eggs per 100 layers. All layers in the U.S. totaled 385.2 million during May, down slightly from a year ago. There were 20.6 million turkey poults hatched in the U.S. in May, down 4 percent from the previous year.
June Hogs and Pigs
Michigan’s total hog and pig inventory on June 1 was estimated at 1.26 million head, up 80,000 head from a year ago. Breeding hog inventory, at 115,000 head, was down 5,000 from last June. Market hog inventory, at 1.15 million head, was up 8 percent from last year. The average pigs saved per litter for the March to May quarter was 10.70, compared to 10.60 from the same period last year.
United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on June 1, 2021 was 75.7 million head. This was down 2 percent from June 1, 2020, but up 1 percent from March 1, 2021. Breeding inventory, at 6.23 million head, was down 2 percent from last year, but up slightly from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 69.4 million head, was down 2 percent from last year, but up 1 percent from last quarter.
May Milk Production
Dairy herds in Michigan produced 1.039 billion pounds of milk during May, up 5.1 percent from a year ago. Production per cow in Michigan averaged 2,335 pounds for May, 25 pounds above May 2020. The dairy herd was estimated at 445,000 head for May, up 17,000 head from a year earlier. The average price of milk sold in May by Michigan dairy producers was $18.10 per cwt., $6.00 more than the price in May 2020.
— USDA NASS Great Lakes Region
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