Western U.S. Corn Expansion Is Pushing Out Wheat
Published: Friday, April 25, 2025
The most recent Prospective Plantings report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests more corn acres and fewer soybean and wheat acres in 2025. Those changes are not the same across the United States. States in the western Corn Belt and Great Plains are expected to see the largest increases in corn acres: Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota. Changes in 2025 largely continue longer-term trends across the nation.
Wheat acres continue to decline, particularly in the Great Plains. North Dakota through Kansas are tending to add both corn and soybean acres. U.S. Trends
In 2025, U.S. farmers are projected to plant 95.3 million corn acres, an increase of 4.7 million acres from 2024. Soybean acres are projected at 83.5 million, down 3.6 million acres from the 2024 level. Wheat acres decreased from 46.1 million in 2024 to 45.4 million in 2025. Overall, acres are expected to shift toward corn and away from soybeans and wheat (see Figure 1).
Over time, wheat acres have declined in the U.S., with those acres moving to corn and soybeans. That switch began in earnest with the passage of the 1996 Farm Bill, which allowed farmers flexibility in plantings. That flexibility has allowed market conditions and expected profitability to more directly impact acreage decisions. Those acre shifts are not even across the U.S., as shown in the following sections detailing acre shifts by regions in the country.
Over time, states in the eastern Corn Belt have shifted more to soybeans with little or no change in corn acreage. Since 1975, wheat acres have been relatively small in eastern Corn Belt states, but also have been declining.
Illinois: Illinois' corn acres are projected at 11.1 million in 2025, a modest increase of 300,000 from 10.8 million in 2024. Soybean acres are projected down by 300,000 acres to 10.5 million in 2025.
Overall, corn acres reached a high of 12.8 million in 2012, and soybeans were at 9 million that year. Since 2012, corn acres have declined, and soybean acres have increased. Corn and soybean acres have been close to one another in recent years in Illinois.
Indiana: Corn acres in Indiana are projected to increase by 200,000 to 5.4 million in 2025, while soybean acres are projected to decrease by 100,000 to 5.7 million.
Since 1995, corn and soybean acres have been close to one another in Indiana, with soybean acres exceeding corn acres since 2015.
Ohio: Corn acres are projected to decline 150,000 to 3.25 million in 2025, while soybean acres are projected to increase slightly to 5.1 million.
Soybean acres have been increasing relative to corn acres in Ohio in recent years. Soybean acres have exceeded corn acres since 1990.
Michigan: Corn acres are projected at 2.3 million and soybeans at 2.15 million, both similar to acreage in 2024. Michigan has planted approximately the same number of corn and soybean acres for nearly a decade.
Wisconsin: In 2025, corn acres are projected at 3.95 million, while soybeans are at 1.9 million. Wisconsin has been increasing soybean acres over time, with many of these acres coming from alfalfa. Wisconsin stands out from the eastern Corn Belt in its high reliance on corn that results from its dairy sector.
Missouri: In 2025, corn acres are projected at 3.8 million, while soybeans are at 5.7 million. Over time, Missouri has more acres in soybeans than in corn, unlike other Corn Belt states west of the Mississippi. Missouri has been gaining in both corn and soybean acres and losing wheat acres.
Notably, corn acres exceed soybean acres by wide margins in Iowa and Nebraska. States in the northern Great Plains have seen wheat acres decline while both corn and soybeans acres have increased. All states are projected to have more acres of corn in 2025.
The Southern Great Plains states have seen wheat acres decline over time. Acres have changed little in Mississippi Delta and Mid-South states.
More corn acres are projected to be planted in 2025 than in 2024. While many states are projected to increase corn acres, some of the largest increases occur in the western Corn Belt and Great Plains: Iowa increased 600,000 acres, Nebraska (550,000), Minnesota (400,000), South Dakota (400,000), Missouri (350,000). Those states also tend to have the largest soybean acre declines relative to 2024.
Changes in 2025 tend to continue longer-term trends. The western Corn Belt and Great Plains have increased corn acreage while losing wheat acres. Some of the higher corn concentrations occur in these states: Iowa and Nebraska. States in the eastern Corn Belt tend to plant about the same number of corn acres as soybean acres.
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