CoBank forecast that U.S. farmers would plant 94.55 million acres of corn in 2025, a 4.2% increase from 2024. The February 20 outlook expected corn to gain ground from soybeans, spring wheat, cotton and grain sorghum—but it was a pre-planting projection, not the final account of what farmers planted.
How many corn acres did CoBank forecast?
CoBank Knowledge Exchange projected 94.55 million U.S. acres of corn planted in 2025, up 4.2% year over year. It also projected 87.06 million acres harvested for grain, up 5.0%, and 5.6 million acres harvested for silage, down 8.2%. Planted acreage and harvested acreage are different measures: not every planted acre is ultimately harvested, and corn for grain is distinct from corn for silage.
The forecast appeared February 20, before spring planting. CoBank said it combined statistical regression analysis with information from grain cooperatives and merchandisers around the country. CoBank’s spring acreage outlook contains the projections and crop-by-crop discussion.
Which crops did CoBank expect to lose acres?
The report’s projected planted acreage changes were:
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| Crop | CoBank’s 2025 projection | Change from prior year |
|---|---|---|
| Corn | 94.55 million acres | Up 4.2% |
| Soybeans | 84.0 million acres | Down 3.6% |
| Spring wheat, excluding durum | 10.0 million acres | Down 5.9% |
| Cotton | 10.3 million acres | Down 7.8% |
| Grain sorghum | 5.7 million acres | Down 9.5% |
These are CoBank’s February projections, not a single USDA measurement of acreage moved directly from one crop to another. Farmers make crop choices field by field, and the listed acreage changes do not establish that every acre lost by one crop became corn.
Why did CoBank expect corn to gain acreage?
Prices and demand favored corn
CoBank cited stronger corn prices relative to competing crops, tight global stocks and export demand, including demand led in part by Mexico. It also pointed to record ethanol production and profitable livestock and poultry feeding margins as sources of demand for corn.
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Some silage acres could shift to grain
The report expected low hay prices to encourage a shift in some corn acreage from silage to corn harvested for grain. That helps explain why its grain-harvest projection rose while its silage projection fell; it is separate from the broader planted-acre forecast.
Competing crops faced their own pressures
- Soybeans: CoBank saw weak acreage prospects, although it noted the possibility of double-cropping soybeans after winter wheat.
- Spring wheat: A strong U.S. dollar and larger domestic supply were expected to pressure prices.
- Cotton: Global economic concerns, China and competition from Brazil weighed on the outlook.
- Grain sorghum: Reduced Chinese export demand was a concern.
Why was the forecast uncertain?
Planting decisions were not settled in February. CoBank grains and oilseeds economist Tanner Ehmke said, “We’re still several weeks away from the start of planting season, which means the acreage balance is still in flux.” The company’s February 20 press release also identified potential trade disputes with Canada or Mexico as a risk to corn or ethanol exports.
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Other factors CoBank said could alter decisions included soybean-oil demand, wheat crop damage, changes in cotton markets and Chinese demand for sorghum. Ehmke summarized the outlook as: “Multiple factors could shift how acres are traded around the U.S., but the current price environment suggests corn will be king in 2025.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How did later USDA acreage estimates compare?
Later USDA estimates put corn acreage above CoBank’s February projection, while soybean acreage was lower. The estimates came at different dates and used different information, so the figures should be read as successive estimates—not as proof by themselves of forecast accuracy or of why planting decisions changed.
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| Source and date | Corn planted | Soybeans planted | Cotton planted |
|---|---|---|---|
| CoBank forecast, February 20, 2025 | 94.55 million acres | 84.0 million acres | 10.3 million acres |
| USDA NASS estimate, June 30, 2025 | 95.2 million acres | 83.4 million acres | Not stated in the cited June release |
| USDA NASS estimate, September 12, 2025 | 98.7 million acres | 81.1 million acres | 9.30 million acres |
For its June 30 Acreage report, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) surveyed approximately 67,700 farm operators during the first two weeks of June about what they had actually planted. Its estimates were 95.2 million acres of corn and 83.4 million acres of soybeans.
In its September 12 Crop Production release, NASS estimated 98.7 million planted corn acres, 81.1 million soybean acres and 9.30 million cotton acres. USDA said it reviewed acreage estimates using available information, including certified acreage data from the Farm Service Agency. The September figures superseded the earlier estimates as a later assessment; they do not turn CoBank’s February projection into a final USDA figure.
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