The USDA left its national corn planted area estimate virtually unchanged from March while raising soybean plantings.
Tuesday’s USDA acreage report showed U.S. farmers planted 95.343 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2026, essentially matching the 95.3 million acres indicated in the March Prospective Plantings report. The June estimate was close to the average pre-report trade expectation of 95.1 million acres.
Corn area was down 3.445 million acres, or about 3%, from the 98.788 million acres planted in 2025. Despite the annual decline, the USDA said this year’s total represents the fourth-largest U.S. corn acreage since 1944.
Area expected to be harvested for grain was estimated at 87.434 million acres, down 4% from 91.258 million last year.
Meanwhile, soybean plantings were estimated at 85.365 million acres, up approximately 665,000 acres, or 0.8%, from the March projection of 84.7 million. The estimate was also slightly above the average pre-report trade guess of 85.2 million acres.
Compared with 2025, soybean area increased 4.15 million acres, or 5%, from 81.215 million. The USDA expects 84.401 million acres to be harvested, up from 80.437 million last year.
State-level corn estimates showed several changes from farmers’ March intentions. Illinois growers planted 11.1 million acres, 200,000 more than forecast in March but 100,000 fewer than last year. Iowa corn area was estimated at 13 million acres, down 100,000 from March and 550,000 from 2025.
Indiana farmers planted 5.35 million acres of corn, 50,000 below both March intentions and last year. Michigan remained at the March estimate of 2.25 million acres but was down 100,000 from 2025.
North Dakota corn area rose to 4.55 million acres, 150,000 above March intentions but 150,000 below last year. Ohio plantings fell to 3.3 million acres, down 100,000 from both March and 2025. Minnesota increased corn area to 8.55 million acres from 8 million last year, while Nebraska eased to 10.5 million from 10.75 million.
Soybean acreage increased across several Corn Belt states. Illinois plantings reached 10.7 million acres, 200,000 above the March estimate and 400,000 more than last year. Iowa rose to 10 million acres, up 100,000 from March and 550,000 from 2025.
Indiana soybean area climbed to 5.6 million acres, compared with 5.5 million in March and 5.45 million last year. North Dakota increased to 6.8 million acres, 100,000 above March and 250,000 higher than in 2025.
Ohio posted one of the largest revisions, with soybean plantings jumping to 5.1 million acres from the March intention of 4.8 million and last year’s 4.9 million. Michigan remained at 2.05 million acres, unchanged from March but slightly below 2025.
