NCGA: USDA Projects Second-Highest Planted Corn Acreage Total in More Than 50 Years

ST. LOUIS, March 31, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Today's Prospective Plantings
report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates farmers are
concerned about high input costs, according to the National Corn Growers
Association (NCGA). The report says farmers intend to plant 86.014 million corn
acres this year, an 8 percent drop from 2007's high acreage, yet the
second-highest acreage intention since 1949, NCGA notes.

"We're always cautious when we review the March projections, because they are
made before any seeds really enter the ground," said Ron Litterer, NCGA
president. "The corn acreage projections also have a tendency to go up. Last
year, for example, there was a difference of more than 3 million acres between
the March estimate and the final number." Litterer pointed out USDA's March
report has underestimated actual corn acres in the each of the last four years.

"One thing farmers have told us this year, and something I've seen myself, are
that growers are facing tremendously higher input costs -- particularly for
fertilizer and diesel fuel," Litterer added. "We need access to more affordable
sources of natural gas for fertilizer production and we're concerned about the
impact of higher crude oil prices on farmer profitability."

The March USDA report would indicate approximately 79 million harvested acres.
If the average trend yield of 155.5 bushels per acre is realized, corn producers
would be on track to produce approximately 12.3 billion bushels in 2008 -- the
second-highest production ever. The USDA's June 30 report will provide a clearer
view of 2008 corn acreage.

"Based on what we've heard from our growers, and if the weather goes our way,
we're confident we will produce another good crop," Litterer said. "We're
committed to meeting all needs -- food, fuel, feed and fiber, and we are
heartened by the trend toward higher yields that maximizes how much corn is
produced per acre. Farmers are becoming more efficient and more productive."

Today's USDA report also noted that many previous corn acres are being planted
in soybean, a common crop rotation. The projected 74.8 million acres would be
the third-highest soybean acreage in history. Complete information on the USDA
Prospective Planting report is available on the Internet at www.usda.gov.

The National Corn Growers Association's mission is to create and increase
opportunities for corn growers. NCGA represents more than 33,000 members and 48
affiliated state organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who
contribute to state checkoff programs. For more information on NCGA, log on to
www.ncga.com.

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CONTACT: National Corn Growers Association
Mimi Ricketts
636-733-9004, ext. 112