Purdue News

February 23, 2001 Indiana popcorn crop falls with prices WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Indiana's popcorn crop lost some of its "pop" last year as oversupply led to reduced contract prices offered to growers for their 2000 acreage. The lower prices resulted in a nearly 27 percent drop in harvested acres from the previous year, as some farmers abandoned popcorn to plant more lucrative crops. "Farmers decided to stop planting popcorn and moved to soybeans," said Indiana agricultural statistician Ralph Gann. Popcorn, unlike field corn or soybeans, is produced almost exclusively by contract. Last year processors offered 9.1 cents per pound for popcorn, down from 10 cents per pound in 1999 and 11.7 cents in 1998. Gann said processors lowered popcorn bid prices because there was enough of the 1999 crop to cover demand. If popcorn farmers continue to turn to other crops to maintain profits, processor bids will rise again once the current supply diminishes, he said. Indiana farmers harvested 55,000 acres of popcorn in 2000, 20,000 acres below 1999 reports. Popcorn acreage has been decreasing since 1997, when 88,000 acres were harvested in state. While all other aspects of popcorn production were down, yields increased to 3,500 pounds per acre, up 200 pounds from 1999. "It was an ideal planting season," said Gann. "There was adequate moisture all the way up to about August. Just like corn and soybean yields, popcorn yields increased." According to the National Popcorn Institute in Chicago, Indiana led the nation for popcorn production in 1998 and 1999. Indiana's ranking may decline after other states report statistics for the 2000 crop season. Popcorn can be grown in all regions of Indiana, though much of it is grown in the northern one-third of the state. White, Pulaski, Fulton and Jasper counties lead in Hoosier popcorn production. The latest Census of Agriculture, collected in 1997, reported 449 Indiana farms under contract with popcorn processors. CONTACT: Gann, (765) 494-8371; rgann@nass.usda.gov. Compiled by Beth Forbes, (765) 494-2722, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page