Soybean Farmers Usually Follow Early Acreage Intentions

U. S. soybean acreage planted rose from 23 million in 1959 to a record 42 million in 1968. Expansion occurred in all areas, with a sharp increase in the South. Farmers in early March indicated plans to plant 43 million acres to soybeans in 1969. Producers usually carry out their soybean planting intentions. In 8 of the past 10 years, U.S. soybean plantings were within 1% of intentions. However, actual plantings in 1969 may not match intentions because of growers' later decisions based on Government program provisions which were not fully known on March 1--including the cut in the price support rate for 1969-crop soybeans