China To Plant More Soybeans, Reduce Corn Acres

Oct 24, 2016

China will reduce the area planted with corn and lift soybean acreage in the next five years, said the country's cabinet on Thursday, reiterating goals outlined earlier this year to adjust the nation's crop structure to better meet demand.

China has encouraged farmers to expand corn planting and abandon soybeans in recent years by paying them inflated prices for corn. The policy, abandoned earlier this year, has left China with huge reserves of corn.

The government is now attempting to reverse that trend while also seeking ways to use up its huge stocks of grain.

The corn acreage is set to fall by 0.7 percent each year over the next five years, to reach 500 million mu (33.3 million hectares) by 2020, showed the five-year plan.

Soybean area will rise to 140 million mu by 2020, up from 98 million mu in 2015.

The government also wants to promote "deep processing" of agricultural products such as corn and accelerate consumption of the grain, cotton and oil stockpiles, it said.

Video: Agriculture Secretary Rollins Speaks at American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Anaheim

One of the highlights at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Anaheim, California, was an address by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. During her remarks, she thanked America’s farmers and ranchers and said the Trump Administration is fully aware that food security is national security.

She also acknowledged the challenging times in Farm Country with low commodity prices and high input costs and said that’s why the President stepped in to help with the recent Bridge Assistance Program.

Montana Farm Bureau Federation Executive Vice President Scott Kulbeck says that Farm Bureau members are appreciative of the help and looks forward to working with the American Farm Bureau Federation and its presence in Washington, DC to keep farmers and ranchers in business.

Secretary Rollins said the Trump Administration is also committed to helping ranchers build back America’s cattle herd while also providing more high-quality U.S. beef at the meat case for consumers.

And she also announced more assistance for specialty crop producers who only received a fraction of the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA).

It’s important to note that producers who qualify for Farmer Bridge Assistance can expect the Farm Service Agency to start issuing payments in late February. For more information, farmers and ranchers are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center.