By Scout Nelson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has released the 2025 Nebraska Acreage Report, showing notable shifts in crop decisions across the state.
Corn remains Nebraska’s dominant crop, with farmers planting 10.3 million acres for all purposes, up 2.5% from last year. About 96% of those acres used biotechnology varieties, consistent with 2024. Harvested area for grain is expected to reach 9.87 million acres, a 1.7% increase.
Soybean acreage saw a decrease, with 5.0 million acres planted, down 6% from 2024. Nearly all soybean fields, 96%, were planted with genetically modified herbicide-resistant seed. Farmers expect to harvest 4.95 million acres.
Winter wheat plantings declined 4% to 960,000 acres, with only 820,000 acres expected to be harvested, down 11% from a year ago.
For hay, alfalfa acreage increased by 6.5% to 1.6 million acres, while other hay acreage declined 4% to 1.5 million acres.
Sorghum acres dropped 4% to 280,000, with grain harvests projected at 230,000 acres, down 12%. Oats showed mixed results, with 145,000 acres planted (up 19%), but harvested grain acreage dropped 18% to 30,000 acres.
Dry edible beans fell to 125,000 acres, down 4%, with 119,000 acres expected for harvest. Proso millet acreage declined 14% to 95,000 acres.
Sugarbeet plantings rose slightly to 48,000 acres, with 47,500 acres expected to be harvested. Oil sunflower acreage increased 32% to 36,000 acres, while non-oil sunflower acreage surged 74% to 5,000 acres.
Dry edible peas expanded 27% to 34,000 acres, with 30,000 acres expected for harvest.
Potato acreage held steady at 21,000 acres, with 20,900 acres forecasted for harvest, the same as last year.
These estimates are based on farmer surveys conducted during early June, reflecting Nebraska producers’ decisions amid changing markets, input costs, and weather expectations.
Photo Credit: getty-images-elhenyo
Categories: Nebraska, Crops, Corn, Wheat, Hay & Forage, Alfalfa, General