INFB Chief Economist Offers Insights On NASS Prospective Plantings Report

Apr 02, 2025

By Heidi Gant

Indiana Farm Bureau’s Chief Economist Todd Davis is offering his insights on the latest National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) report released earlier this afternoon.

According to Dr. Davis, “Because 800,000 acres of the 3 million more acres of corn expected to be planted are in North Dakota, which is not a top corn-producing state, there is uncertainty that we will end up with the size of corn crop indicated in this report.” He added, “North Dakota often experiences significant corn prevented plantings, so the planned area increase in North Dakota may not materialize.”

Dr. Davis added, “Higher input prices are expected this year so farmers should keep an eye on budgets and take advantage of favorable pricing opportunities if and when they occur.” He also noted that even though more corn is predicted this year, the impact on price may not be as bearish as previously expected with lower prices and tighter profitability.

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Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.