Corn and soybean planting could be up this spring as farmers look to take advantage of high prices for both crops. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates 1.2 million more acres of corn and 6.9 million additional acres of soybeans will be planted compared to 2019-2020. At 182 million acres combined, that would be a record high and the first time both crops would be above 90 million acres planted. Rio Creek Feed Mill agronomist Adam Barta predicted as much earlier this month for many fields not firmly tied to a crop rotation schedule.

S&P Global Platts also credits higher insurance guarantees and expected record demand for grains from China for encouraging farmers to plant more corn and soybeans this year.