U.S. farmers are expected to plant fewer corn acres this spring and shift more land to soybeans as rising input costs continue to pressure farm budgets, analysts say. Higher fertilizer and diesel prices, driven in part by global geopolitical tensions, have made corn more expensive to produce than soybeans, which require less nitrogen. As a result, producers are adjusting planting decisions to manage financial risk, according to Reuters.
The shift comes as farm income is projected to decline for a fourth consecutive year, according to economists. Lower commodity prices and elevated input costs have squeezed margins across much of the farm sector. Market analysts say the acreage changes could influence grain supplies later this year, potentially supporting corn prices if production falls. Planting decisions remain fluid, however, as farmers weigh weather conditions, input availability and market volatility ahead of the spring planting season.
USDA will release it’s annual Prospective Plantings report, along with Quarterly Grain Stocks numbers on Tuesday, March 31st, 2026 at Noon EST/11AM CST. On average, according to analysts polled by Reuters, corn acres are projected to drop to 94.371 million this year compared to 98.788 million acres in 2025. Soybean acreage estimates are at 85.549 million acres compared to 81.215 million in 2025. Spring wheat acres are forecast to drop to 9.843 million acres according to Reuters, which would be down from 9.990 million in 2025 and the lowest seen since 1970.
SOURCE: NAFB News Service and Reuters
