New Survey Predicts 1.3 Million-Acre Jump for Corn Ahead of USDA Report

Just days before USDA is expected to release its new estimates, the Kluis Commodity Advisors/Successful Farming Acreage Survey revealed American farmers planted over 1 million more corn acres for the 2025/2026 crop year than USDA previously forecast. Soybean and wheat acres were pegged lower. 

According to the survey results, the acreage for corn and soybeans combined is 179.3 million versus 178.8 million in USDA’s March 2025 Prospective Plantings report. The survey attributes this increase to a 500,000-acre reduction in spring wheat. 

USDA’s March report contained 2025/2026 acreage estimates based chiefly on surveys asking what U.S. farmers anticipated planting. Monday, June 30, USDA is expected to release the annual Acreage report, containing new estimates based mainly on farmer surveys to discover how many acres were actually planted.

Corn

The Kluis Commodity Advisors/Successful Farming (Kluis/SF) survey found U.S. farmers planted 96.6 million corn acres for 2025/2026, up from 90.6 million for 2024/2025 and 95.3 million in USDA’s March report. 

The Kluis/SF survey is above the average trade estimate for Monday’s report, which is 95.4 million acres. 

Soybeans

The Kluis/SF survey pegged soybean acres at 82.6 million. This is down from 87.1 million acres in 2024/2025 and USDA’s March estimate of 83.5 million acres.  

The average trade estimate for Monday’s report is 83.7 million acres. 

Wheat

For wheat, the Kluis/SF survey found American farmers planted 44.9 million acres for 2025/2026, down from 46.1 million in 2024/2025 and from USDA’s March estimate of 45.4 million. 

This is also below the average trade estimate of 45.4 million acres. 

Thoughts From Kluis

Al Kluis, managing director of Kluis Commodity Advisors, said the survey’s corn estimate has the potential to translate to increased U.S. corn production and ending stocks, making the number negative for prices. But he emphasized “potential,” as the growing season has yet to fully unfold and yield and final production are unknown. 

“The numbers indicate to me that, with an early spring, farmers just kept planting corn, and this is consistent with what we’ve heard from the seed companies we work with,” he said. 

Concerning soybeans, Kluis said the survey results indicate potential for lower production and are positive for prices. 

“It really makes it essential that we get large yields this year,” he said, noting U.S. soybean ending stocks are already tight. Otherwise, he said, “We could have a very exciting soybean market.” 

Finally, Kluis noted: “The other interesting number is that farmers in our survey indicated they will have 51% fewer prevent plant acres in 2025 than in 2024.” 

Multiple Acreage Reports

Farmers Business Network (FBN) recently released a U.S. acreage report, detailing their corn and soybean planted acre estimates. FBN found farmers planted 95.0 million corn acres this year, down 306,000 acres from USDA’s March report. For soybeans, FBN anticipates an increase of 202,000 acres from USDA’s March report with 83.7 million soybean acres.

Note: Trade expectations are sourced from Reuters.