Expected corn boost may cause seed shortage

Agriculture officials say an expected boom in corn plantings this spring could cause a shortage of corn seed.

The U.S. Agriculture Department says North Dakota farmers are expected to plant 3.4 million acres of corn this year. That's a 52 percent increase, the largest in the country.

South Dakota farmers are boosting their corn production by 6 percent. The USDA estimates South Dakota farmers will plan 5.5 million acres.

South Dakota Agriculture Secretary Walt Bones says the national increase in demand will put pressure on seed stocks, particularly for new hybrid varieties of corn.

But Bones tells the Sioux Falls Argus Leader the supply should be good enough if cold weather doesn't cause a lot of farmers to have to replant their corn.

Gallery

Fullscreen SlidePrevious Slide

1 of 1

Next Slide