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U.S. soybean acres expected to surpass corn in 2022

The USDA released its Prospective Plantings report on Thursday.

Dan Basse is president of AgResource Company in Chicago, Illinois.

"This crop year, it looks like U.S. farmers almost totally responded to input costs, whether it be fertilizer, chemicals, or herbicides. If you look at it, corn of course was the big loser. 89.5 million acres of corn is what the intentions showed us, that was down a little over 3.8 million acres from last year. The gains all went to soybeans at 91 million acres and when we look at combined corn and soybean acreage, we're down about 100,000 from last year, which gives credence to that peak U.S. farmland theory that's going around. U.S. wheat acreage 47.4 million was up a little bit from last year but again 400,000 acres below expectations."

The following is from the USDA Prospective Plantings report:

Corn planted area for all purposes in 2022 is estimated at 89.5 million acres, down 4 percent or 3.87 million acres from last year. Compared with last year, planted acreage is expected to be down or unchanged in 43 of the 48 estimating States.

Soybean planted area for 2022 is estimated at a record 91.0 million acres, up 4 percent from last year. Compared with last year, planted acreage is up or unchanged in 24 of the 29 estimating States.

All wheat planted area for 2022 is estimated at 47.4 million acres, up 1 percent from 2021. If realized, this represents the fifth lowest all wheat planted area since records began in 1919. The 2022 winter wheat planted area, at 34.2 million acres, is up 2 percent from last year but down less than 1 percent from the previous estimate. Of this total, about 23.7 million acres are Hard Red Winter, 6.89 million acres are Soft Red Winter, and 3.62 million acres are White Winter. Area expected to be planted to other spring wheat for 2022 is estimated at 11.2 million acres, down 2 percent from 2021. Of this total, about 10.5 million acres are Hard Red Spring wheat. Durum planted area for 2022 is expected to total 1.92 million acres, up 17 percent from the previous year.

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How a Desire to Lead Brought This Wheat Breeder to Canada

Video: How a Desire to Lead Brought This Wheat Breeder to Canada

Gurcharn Singh Brar is a wheat breeder whose path meandered from the breadbaskets of Punjab, India, to the sprawling fields of the Prairies. In a candid conversation, Brar shared insights into his journey, the challenges faced, and the undying passion that fuels his quest for better crops.

It all began with a childhood rooted in the wheat fields of Punjab, where agriculture isn’t just a livelihood but a way of life. His fascination with wheat and its potential led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences at Punjab Agricultural University. It was during this time that he encountered the spectre of rust diseases, particularly stripe rust, which plagued the region’s wheat crops. Determined to combat this menace, he set his sights on a journey that would take him across continents.

Venturing abroad for his graduate studies, he found himself in Saskatchewan at the Crop Development Centre (CDC), working under the mentorship of renowned researchers like Randy Kutcher and Pierre Hucl. Here, he delved deep into the world of wheat genetics, focusing on stripe rust resistance — a quest that would shape his academic pursuits for years to come.

After completing his master’s and Ph.D. in six and a half years, he embarked on a professional journey that would see him traverse academia and research. From brief stints as a research officer to landing his dream faculty position at the University of British Columbia’s Plant Science program, his career trajectory was marked by a strong drive to make a difference in the world of wheat.

Despite the allure of British Columbia’s unique agricultural landscape, he found himself wanting to return to the vast expanses of the Prairies, where wheat reigns supreme. He recently returned to the Prairies and is the new wheat breeder at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

“The opportunity to lead an established wheat breeding program at the University of Alberta was a dream come true. With the necessary resources and infrastructure in place, I’m excited to drive innovation and develop high-yielding wheat varieties tailored to the unique conditions of northern Canada,” he says.

Brar, one of Seed World Canada‘s 2024 Next-Gen Leaders, has become known for identifying novel sources of resistance to priority diseases and his efforts in developing wheat germplasm with multiple disease-resistant traits.

In addition to his groundbreaking research, Brar is committed to mentoring the next generation of agricultural scientists.

“I believe in nurturing talent and empowering students to pursue their passions,” he says. “Watching my students grow and thrive in their research endeavours is hugely rewarding.”

As he looks ahead, Brar’s vision for the future of wheat breeding is clear: “My number one target is to develop high-yielding wheat varieties adapted to the northern climates of Canada. By focusing on early maturity and strong straw traits, we can maximize yield potential while ensuring resilience to environmental challenges.”

His decision to also join the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye, and Triticale (PGDC) executive as member-at-large came from a desire to play an even more important role in the world of Canadian cereals.