1991 CORN PLANTINGS UP, SOYBEANS DOWN

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Missouri frmers are boosting corn plantings this spring and cutting back on soybeans, according to the latest data received here this week from the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

Soybean acreeage in Missouri is projected at 4 millon faor 1991, down about five percent from a year ago. Meanwhile, show-me stae farmers exect to plant 2.5 million acres of corn this year, 400,000 more than in 1990

There may be little difference in the acreage of the two crops in Cape County. Farmers here planted about 47,000 acres of soybeans a year ago, and about 35,000 acres of corn. Both figures were down from 1989.

Nationally, farmers will also plant more corn and less wheat, according to a survey of more than 75,000 last month.

The survey, conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculturej, indicates that corn plantings are expected to be at a five-year high of 76.1 million acres, up 3 percent from last year.

But soybean plantings are expected to decline 1 percent, to 57.1 million acres, the department's Agricultural Statistics Board said in its latest survey report.

If farmers carry out their plans, that would be the smallest U.S. soybean acreage since 1976, when 50.3 million were planted. It would be the largest corn acreage since 76.7 million acres were planted in 1986.

Officials cautioned that the actual acreage may differ from intentions expressed in the survey because of weather, costs, changes in the market outlook and other factors.

A special survey in January showed that farmers intended to increase 1991 corn plantings by 4 percent, to 77.5 million acres, and boost soybeans 1 percent, to 58.5 million acres.

Some uncertainty about 1991 plantings springs from farmers' reaction to the new farm law Congress passed last year. The five-year law includes cutbacks in direct payments to farmers, along with more flexibility on what to plant.

Farmer signup began March 4 and will continue through April 26 at county offices. The special survey in January indicated that about one-fourth of those who participated in last year's program were undecided about the 1991 version.

Another important factor, particularly for wheat producers, has been the decline in grain market prices because of large supplies and reduced export demand.

In a related report, the Agriculture Department said U.S. inventories of corn on March 1 were estimated at 4.79 billion bushels, virtually the same as a year ago. All wheat in storage was reported at 1.4 billion bushels, a 48 percent increase from March 1, 1990.

Soybean inventories, at 1.19 billion bushels, were up 13 percent from a year ago, the quarterly grain stocks report said.

Total wheat plantings for this year's harvest, including winter wheat seeded last fall and spring-planted varieties, were indicated at 69 million acres, down 11 percent from last year.

In the January survey, wheat farmers indicated they would plant 68.6 million acres, down about 11 percent.

No production estimates were provided in the report. USDA's first estimate of 1991 winter wheat production will be issued May 9, and the first all-wheat figures July 11. The first corn and soybean production estimates will be released Aug. 12.

Other crops included in the new survey report:

-Cotton plantings, 14 million acres, up 13 percent from 1990.

-Sorghum, 11.1 million acres, up 6 percent.

-Barley, 8.71 million acres, up 6 percent.

-Oats, 9.52 million acres, down 9 percent and a record low.

-Hay, 61.4 million acres for harvest, down fractionally.

-Rice, 2.81 million acres, down 3 percent.

-Peanuts, 1.9 million acres, up 3 percent.

-Tobacco, 756,200 acres, up 4 percent.

-Dry edible beans, 1.87 million acres, down 14 percent.