U.S. farmers are poised to significantly increase corn plantings this spring, according to a new report from CoBank's Knowledge Exchange. The study projects a 4.2% rise in corn acreage to 94.5 million acres in 2025, driven by resilient corn prices, tight global stocks, and strong demand from both export markets and domestic ethanol production.
Tanner Ehmke, grains and oilseeds economist with CoBank, stated, "While farmers tend to stick to historical crop rotations for agronomic reasons and market diversification, corn's price rally relative to other crops suggests a major shift in acreage is in the offing."
The expansion in corn acreage is expected to come at the expense of other crops:
- Soybean acreage is forecast to decrease by 3.6% to 84.0 million acres
- Spring wheat plantings may fall 5.9% to 10.0 million acres
- Cotton acreage is projected to drop 7.8% to 10.3 million acres
- Grain sorghum plantings could decline 9.5% to 5.7 million acres
However, the report cautions that potential trade disputes with Canada and Mexico could impact corn demand and influence final planting decisions. Additionally, weather conditions and global market dynamics may still shift acreage allocations before the planting season begins.
