Ag crop statistics offer mixed bag

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio – Corn stocks in all positions in Ohio on March 1, 2004 totaled 247.3 million bushels, 32 percent above the 187.4 million bushels stored in March 1, 2003.

On-farm stocks, at 125 million bushels accounted for 51 percent of the total stored. Off-farm stocks increased 26.9 million bushels from a year ago to 122.3 million bushels.

Soybeans. Soybean stocks in Ohio totaled 51.1 million bushels, down 29 percent from March 1, 2003. On-farm storage at 19 million bushels, accounted for 37 percent of total storage compared to 47 percent last year.

Off-farm storage decreased by 16 percent from March 1, 2003 to 32.1 million bushels.

Wheat. All wheat stocks totaled 44.6 million bushels, up 15 percent from last year. Off-farm stocks, at 44 million bushels, account for 99 percent of total stocks.

Off-farm stocks were up 15 percent from March 1, 2003. On-farm stocks were up 50 percent from last year from 400,000 bushels to 600,000 bushels.

Corn. U.S. corn stocks in all positions on March 1, 2004 totaled 5.27 billion bushels, up 3 percent from March 1, 2003.

Of the total stocks, 3.03 billion bushels are stored on farms, up 3 percent from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 2.24 billion bushels, are up 2 percent from the previous year.

The December 2003-February 2004 indicated disappearance is 2.68 billion bushels, compared with 2.51 billion bushels during the same period last year.

Lowest since 1989. Soybeans stored in all positions on March 1, 2004 totaled 906 million bushels, down 25 percent from March 1, 2003. This is the lowest March 1 stocks level since 1989.

On-farm stocks totaled 356 million bushels, down 44 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 550 million bushels, are down 3 percent from the previous year.

The December 2003-February 2004 indicated disappearance is 783 million bushels, down 14 percent from the same period a year earlier.

All wheat stored in all positions on March 1, 2004 totaled 1.02 billion bushels, up 12 percent from a year ago.

On-farm stocks are estimated at 258 million bushels, up 9 percent from last year. Off-farm stocks, at 761 million bushels, are up 14 percent from a year ago.

The indicated December 2003-February 2004 disappearance is 501 million bushels, up 21 percent from the same period a year earlier.