Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteS&P Global Energy CERA forecast 95.2 million acres of U.S. corn plantings in 2026 in an outlook published March 18. That is the analyst’s forecast, not a USDA estimate. USDA later reported 95.3 million acres of intended planting in March and estimated 95.3 million acres planted in June.
How many acres of corn will farmers plant in 2026?
S&P Global Energy CERA’s March 18, 2026 outlook forecast 95.2 million acres. It put the figure 3.6 million acres below 2025 and 200,000 acres above its January projection. Those comparisons describe CERA’s forecast, not a final USDA acreage tally. S&P Global Energy CERA’s outlook
What does USDA estimate for 2026 corn acreage?
USDA’s estimates are close to CERA’s forecast, but they refer to different stages of the planting process.
| Release and date | Figure | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| S&P Global Energy CERA outlook, March 18, 2026 | 95.2 million acres | Private forecast of 2026 corn plantings |
| USDA NASS Prospective Plantings, March 31, 2026 | 95.3 million acres | Farmers’ intended corn planting; USDA called this its first official, survey-based estimate of 2026 planting intentions |
| USDA NASS Acreage, June 30, 2026 | 95.3 million acres | USDA’s later estimate of acres planted |
The March and June USDA numbers are not competing readings of the same measure: the first records intentions, while the second estimates planted acreage. For the June report, USDA NASS surveyed approximately 90,300 farm operators during the first two weeks of June. USDA NASS, Prospective Plantings, March 31, 2026; USDA NASS, Acreage, June 30, 2026
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Why did CERA expect corn acreage to decline?
CERA attributed its projected reduction to crop rotation following notably large corn acreage the prior year and relatively high production costs. Senior analyst Mindy McMurtry said, “While recent price movements have become slightly more favorable for additional corn plantings, higher fuel and fertilizer costs remain a concern.” These are CERA’s stated considerations, not proof that any one factor caused farmers’ planting decisions. S&P Global Energy CERA’s outlook
In coverage on April 1, S&P also noted that the March USDA survey had been completed before much of the then-current geopolitical risk had fully materialized. CERA said acreage could change in a later adjustment; USDA’s June 30 estimate subsequently provided a later planted-area figure. S&P Global’s April 1 coverage
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Why planted acres differ from acres harvested for grain
Planted acreage is not the same as the area expected to be harvested for grain. USDA’s Economic Research Service cited the March estimate of 95.3 million planted acres and forecast 87.4 million acres harvested for grain in the 2026/27 marketing year. The two figures describe different measures, so the harvest forecast should not be read as a revised planting estimate. USDA ERS, Feed Outlook, May 2026
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