By Ryan Hanrahan
Farm Progress’ Bruce Blythe reported that “as far as American farmers are concerned, ‘King Corn’ will retain its crown for another year. That’s one takeaway from today’s USDA Prospective Plantings report, which included an unexpectedly high corn acreage forecast at 95.338 million acres. That figure marks a 3.4% drop from last year’s plantings, which were a nine-decade high, but was about 967,000 acres above the average analyst estimate.”
“The same report showed estimated soybean plantings at a lighter than expected 84.7 million acres, up 4.3% from 2025’s six-year low but about 849,000 acres short of the average estimate,” Blythe reported. “USDA’s acreage estimates suggest many farmers see greater profit potential in corn compared to soybeans and other crops even after last year’s record 17.02 billion-bushel harvest swelled supplies to multi-year highs. This year’s expected planted acreage would be the fourth highest since the end of World War II and could generate a near-record harvest if weather cooperates.”
“Analysts cautioned that USDA’s acreage numbers are preliminary and, because results were gathered during the first half of the month, may not fully reflect the impact of the Middle East war that sent fertilizer prices soaring,” Blythe reported. “Spring weather could also alter acreage decisions. USDA will update its acreage numbers at the end of June.”
“‘That will be the debate within the industry: Has the farmer changed his outlook or his planting intentions after he submitted his (survey), simply because the price of fertilizer continues to move higher as well as the cost of energy in general,’ (Jim McCormick, chief operating officer at AgMarket.Net) said,” according to Blythe’s reporting. “‘Remember, this is just the beginning point of the story. We still need to see what gets planted.'”
Source : illinois.edu