U.S. farmers plan more corn and less soybeans this year
U.S. farmers are planning to plant 95.3 million acres of corn in 2025, which is 5% more than last year, according to the USDA’s Prospective Plantings report. The increase is expected in 40 out of 48 reporting states. States like Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota will each see increases of at least 400,000 acres. Some states, including South Dakota and North Dakota, may see record-high corn planting.
On the other hand, soybean planting is expected to drop by 4%, with 83.5 million acres to be planted. States such as Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota are planning the biggest reductions. However, New York and Ohio may hit record highs in soybean acreage.
The report also shows a decline in wheat planting. Total wheat area for 2025 is expected at 45.4 million acres, down 2% from 2024. Winter wheat will make up 33.3 million acres, slightly down from last year. Other spring wheat is projected at 10.0 million acres (down 6%) and Durum wheat at 2.02 million acres (down 2%).
Cotton farmers are also scaling back. In 2025, cotton acreage is expected to fall 12%, to 9.87 million acres.
The Grain Stocks report reveals that corn stocks are at 8.15 billion bushels, down 2% from last year. Soybean stocks rose to 1.91 billion bushels (up 4%), while wheat stocks increased to 1.24 billion bushels (up 14%). Durum wheat stocks also rose 6%.
The USDA will hold a virtual Spring Data Users’ Meeting on April 29, and a live #StatChat on X with Lance Honig will be held today at 1:30 p.m. EDT.
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