USDA report reveals shifting crop planting intentions

The USDA released its Prospective Plantings report, which highlights farmers’ principal crop planting plans for 2026. Several factors, including trade conditions and global fertilizer market volatility, specifically related to nitrogen supplies, may influence shifts in planting intentions for this year. 

The survey includes feedback from nearly 74,000 farm operators nationwide relating to their crop planting plans for 2026: 

• U.S. producers intend to plant 95.3 million acres of corn in 2026, a 3% decrease from 2025. 

• Farmers plan to plant 8.4 million acres of soybeans in 2026, a 4% increase over last year. The report anticipates record-high acreage totals in Wisconsin.  

• Total wheat acreage planted for 2026 is estimated at 43.8 million acres, a 3% decrease. 

• Cotton acreage is also expected to rise by 4% to 9.64 million acres, with the highest number of acres planted in Texas. 

The full report includes 2026 expected plantings and 2025 harvest data for 19 crops on a state-by-state basis.