Corn planting expected to rise; soybeans to fall

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri farmers are expected to plant more corn and less soybeans this year, according to a survey of farmers released Monday.

Farmers are projected to plant 2.9 million acres of corn in 2003, up 4 percent from last year, said the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service.

Soybeans will remain the state's largest crop. But the projection of 4.95 million acres of soybeans is down 2 percent from last year's crop, said the Columbia-based statistical service, which is a part of the U.S. Agriculture Department.

The planting projections are the first for the 2003 season. The figures are based on a survey of about 1,800 agricultural producers.