By Scout Nelson
Farmers across the U.S. are changing their planting decisions this year due to rising input costs and ongoing trade tensions with China. A major shift is occurring as many reduce soybean acres in favor of corn.
Federal reports show intended soybean plantings are down by 3.5 million acres, a 4% decline from 2024. Some states are seeing even sharper drops, such as Wisconsin with a 12% decrease and Nebraska with 6%. Meanwhile, farmers plan to plant 4.7 million more acres of corn—an increase of 5%.
The drop in soybean planting is largely due to Chinese retaliatory tariffs. According to the American Soybean Association, soybean exports now face a nearly 115% tariff rate.
"The short-term disruptions are painful, but the long-term repercussions to our reputation, our reliability as a supplier, and the stability of those trading relationships are hard to even put into words," said the association’s president.
Experts say China dominates the global soybean market, buying 64% of worldwide trade, making it difficult to find alternative buyers. On the other hand, U.S. corn has a more diverse global customer base and is less dependent on any single country.
Although corn prices have risen slightly, profitability remains uncertain for both crops. An agribusiness expert noted, “Neither [crop has] prices that put people into profitable positions at this point.”
In Iowa, Extension services report a noticeable shift toward corn, with some growers planning back-to-back corn planting rather than the usual rotation.
Still, there are concerns that overplanting corn could lead to oversupply and falling prices next year. Weather may also play a role—persistent rain could delay corn planting and lead to a rebound in soybean acres.
The situation remains fluid as farmers respond to both global trade issues and local growing conditions.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-studio2013
Categories: Nebraska, Crops, Corn, Soybeans