Source: Ukragroconsult (Ukraine)
US soybean acreage 2026 will likely expand this spring amid low prices for most crops and high production costs. Moreover, this conclusion appears in an analytical report by CoBank, which assesses the economic prospects for the spring planting season in the United States.
US Soybean Acreage 2026: Growth Projections and Drivers
According to the forecast, soybean acreage will grow by almost 6% to 86 million acres. Furthermore, increased interest in the crop stems from the expansion of domestic soybean processing capacity and expectations of stable demand from China. Additionally, prices may receive extra support from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to increase mandatory renewable fuel use.
Declining Corn and Wheat Acreage
At the same time, the total area under corn will decrease by 4.8% to 94 million acres. Consequently, after record plantings in 2025 and the accumulation of significant stocks, farmers will seek to diversify risks and include soybeans in crop rotation more often. However, in the Northern Plains, corn may partially replace soybeans due to the latter’s weaker price base and better corn yields in the region.
Meanwhile, analysts estimate that spring wheat acreage will decline by about 1% to 9.89 million acres. Similarly, durum wheat acreage will decline by 3% to 2.12 million acres. High stocks and low profitability make these crops less attractive than corn and soybeans. Sorghum acreage will also decline by 5% to 6.31 million acres due to the broad base and the reorientation of farms towards more profitable crops.
Cotton and Rice Face Major Reductions
Analysts predict a 1% decrease in cotton acreage to 9.19 million acres. Furthermore, this will be the lowest figure in 11 years. Weak exports to China and growing competition from Brazil and Australia are holding back price recovery. Part of the acreage in the southern states will convert to soybeans, and in the plains to corn.
The largest reduction is expected in the rice segment: acreage will decrease by 20% to 2.83 million acres. Moreover, this will be the lowest in 30 years. Long-grain rice in the South will lose about a quarter of its acreage. High production costs and competition from subsidized Indian rice and supplies from South America are forcing farmers to look for alternatives. Therefore, soybeans appear to be the most attractive from an economic point of view.