U.S. corn acreage could be dropping as planting wraps up

Brownfield’s Weekly Commodity Market Update

USDA’s recent crop progress report shows U.S. corn planting is nearing the finish line.

But University of Missouri ag economist Ben Brown says that doesn’t mean planted acreage has matched early season expectations.

“There are two ways that planting progress can go up,” he said. “It can actually be planting acres or it can actually be lowering the number of intended corn acres. So, as people decide ‘hey, I’m done planting for the year; I didn’t get everything planted but I’m done’, that can also increase that corn planting number.”

Brown said passing crop insurance deadlines for corn is pushing a shift toward more soybean acres.