USA: Barley plantings are now estimated at 3.667 million acres

US barley plantings are now estimated at 3.667 million acres, down 5% from 2005, USDA released on March 31.

Top barley producing states were:

North Dakota – 1.2 million acres, same as 2005
Idaho – 600,000 acres, down 5%
Montana – 800,000 acres, down 11%
Washington – 205,000 acres, down 5%

U.S. barley stocks as of March 1 were estimated at 166.6 million bushels, compared to 190.7 million bu the year before (down 13%). The December 2005 to February 2006 indicated disappearance was 41.4 million bu, 25% below the same period a year ago. Idaho barley stocks were pegged at 43.9 million bu, compared to 36.7 million bu a year ago.

Local barley prices were mostly unchanged in southern Idaho but were up 5 to 7 cents in northern Idaho. USDA export sales report showed exports of 3.0 TMT last week, all to Mexico. Barley export sales totaled 2.8 TMT, also for Mexico.

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