Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm – As expected, there’s to be an increase in corn plantings this spring, the United States Department of Agriculture estimated in its prospective planting report released on March 31. As well, the USDA reduced soybean and all wheat plantings.
Corn
The department projected 95.3 million acres of corn this year, up from 90.6 million planted in 2024/25. That’s above the average trade guess of 94.4 million acres, based on a range of 92.5 million to 96.6 million.
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USDA attachés forecast some changes in China’s oilseeds, cereals
As China heads into the 2026/27 marketing year, the United States Department of Agriculture attachés in Beijing projected a few minor to moderate changes in the country’s soybean, canola, corn and wheat crops.
Soybeans
U.S. soybean planted acres are expected to drop to 83.5 million from the 87.1 million seeded last year. The USDA’s estimate matched the average trade guess from a range of 82.5 million to 85.5 million acres.
Wheat
Total U.S. wheat acres stepped back as well at 45.4 million compared to 46.1 million sown in 2024/25. That’s below the average market prediction of 46.5 million acres based on a range of 45.4 million to 47.1 million.
In breaking the wheat area down, there’s very little change in winter wheat planted. It dipped to 33.3 million acres from 33.4 million a year ago. Spring wheat slipped to 10 million acres from 10.6 million and durum edged lower at two million from 2.1 million.
1 acre = 0.405 hectares
