USDA Forecasts Record Corn Crop for 2025, Soybean and Cotton Production Down
The USDA’s Agricultural Statistics Service has released its highly anticipated crop production forecast for the upcoming year, offering a mixed outlook across major U.S. commodities. The headline news: a record-breaking corn crop is on the horizon.
“On corn, corn production for grain is forecast at 16.7 billion bushels. That’s up 13 percent from last year. They have realized this will be the highest production for grain on record for the whole United States.”
With ideal growing conditions across much of the Corn Belt, corn yields are also seeing a notable increase.
“Based on conditions, the yield is forecast right now at 188.8 bushels per acre. That’s up 9.5 bushels per acre from last year.”
While corn producers can anticipate a strong harvest, the story is different for soybeans, where total output is expected to drop.
“On soybeans, soybean production for beans is expected to be 4.29 billion bushels. That’s down two percent from last year and the yields are expected to average about 53.6 bushels per acre and that is up 2.9 bushels per acre.”
Despite better yields, reduced acreage has pulled overall soybean production slightly lower.
The biggest shift, however, may be in cotton, where both planting and production are trending downward.
“On cotton, all cotton planted totals 9.28 million acres. That’s down eight percent from the previous forecast and down 17 percent from last year. All cotton acres harvested is forecast at 7.36 million acres. That’s down six percent from last year. On production, all cotton production is forecast at 13.2 million 480 pound bales, down eight percent from last year on production. Crop looking fair but prices looking terrible.”
This season’s cotton outlook reflects challenging market conditions and a contraction in planted acreage, despite crop quality holding steady.
As the 2025 harvest approaches, producers are closely watching commodity prices, global trade, and weather patterns to assess the profitability of their crops amid record yields and tightening margins.
Audio Reporting by Tyron Spearman for Southeast AgNet.