A new report suggests South Dakota farmers are expected to plant a near-record amount of corn this spring.
The USDA's plantings report shows corn growers intend to plant 6.3 million acres this year. That’s up seven percent from 2024 and would match the state's all-time high, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
But that increase is matched by a drop in other major crops. The report projects a six percent drop in acres planted of soybeans and hay. Soybean producers are expected to plant 5.1 million acres, while hay acres are expected to total 2.7 million.
Winter wheat acres planted in the fall are estimated at 800,000, down seven percent from last year. The report projects spring wheat planting at 660,000 acres, unchanged from 2025.
Sunflower is also expected to see a big increase, with the USDA forecasting a 36 percent increase in acres from last year totaling around 380,000 acres.