Planting Intention Report Shows Corn Plantings Up Eight Percent

March 31, 2020

Farmers will plant eight percent more corn acres than last year, says today’s Prospective Planting report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

 

Corn planted for all purposes in 2020 is estimated at 97 million acres, which is an increase of 7.29 million acres from 2019’s plantings. The five-year national average for planted corn acres is 90.15 million acres.

 

This report shows Illinois farmers intend to plant 11.3 million acres of corn, just over the five-year average of 11.2 million acres and eight percent above 2019’s final planted area. In 2019,1.15 million acres of corn prevented from planting in Illinois due to excess moisture.

 

Demand for these corn acres and the resulting crop is considerably down recently. COVID-19 quarantine precautions have American drivers dramatically reducing their fuel and ethanol consumption. Also, the plunge in crude oil prices has made ethanol less competitive. Although export demand has lagged USDA projections, US grain export infrastructure remains fully operational and export markets may take up some of the lost ethanol demand.

 

The market dynamics have changed considerably since surveys were collected for analysis. In a post COVID-19 economy, planting intentions could shift.

Tim Thompson headshot
By Tara Desmond September 4, 2025
New officers for 2025 - 2026 term
By Sand County Foundation August 28, 2025
Illinois Farmer Awarded Leopold Conservation Award
streambank erosion
By Tara Desmond August 28, 2025
Streambank Erosion: An Overlooked Threat to Illinois Farmland
By Tara Desmond August 28, 2025
What Experienced Farmers Wish They Knew Starting Out
Kacie and Captain us
By Jennie Abbott August 21, 2025
Farm Bureau Manager Kacie Claire shares about her past internship at IL Corn
whiskey
By American Craft Spirits Association August 21, 2025
The Farmer-Distiller: Best Bourbon resulted in a numerical tie, with two distilleries sharing the honor. Queens Reserve, a product of Wood Hat Spirits in Florence, Missouri scored identically to Bloody Butcher Bourbon, which is produced by Pathfinder Farm Distillery in Boonsboro, Maryland.
Show More