STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Row crop growers in Mississippi expect to plant more corn in 2025 than they did last year, but not as much cotton or as many soybeans.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service, a unit of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, released its annual prospective plantings report March 31. Surveys are conducted with farm operators nationwide during the first two weeks of March each year to collect data on which row crops they plan to plant and how many acres.

The report estimates how many acres of soybeans, cotton, corn and rice producers intend to plant in the upcoming growing season. Each year, these estimates serve as a foundation of most row-crop supply projections.

Growers plan to plant 690,000 acres of corn, which would be 41% more than the 490,000 acres harvested in 2024. If this year’s forecast of 2.25 million acres of soybeans holds, that would be a 2% dip in acreage from last year. Intended cotton acreage is at 360,000 acres, down 31% from the 520,000 acres planted last year. Producers intend to plant around 150,000 acres of rice, which would be a 3% decrease from a year ago.

Will Maples, agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the increase in corn acreage is driven by a better profitability outlook compared to other commodities.

“Corn prices, compared to those of cotton and soybeans, have shown more strength throughout the winter,” Maples said. “Inputs have come down from last year for most commodities, but profit margins will remain tight, even for corn.”

MSU Extension grain crop specialist Erick Larson said corn planting is well underway in Mississippi.

“Planting progress is currently estimated at 30%, which is well ahead of recent years and the long-term average,” said Larson, also a research professor with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. “In fact, many growers in the Delta and south Mississippi have planted well more than half of their intended acreage. Rainfall this spring has been rather variable, which has allowed soils to dry in some areas and promote considerable planting progress.”

Maples said while there were changes in commodity prices over the winter that favored corn, the tepid planting projections for this year reflect general uncertainty in futures markets.

“Corn experienced a brief rally in February due to strong demand but has since returned to lower levels. Soybean and cotton prices remain low,” Maples said. “The greatest hindrance to the market currently is the uncertainty surrounding tariffs and global trade. Many are waiting to see what actions the current administration takes regarding tariffs and how other countries respond. Unfortunately, agricultural commodities are likely to be collateral damage in any trade war.”

The report also provides hay and winter wheat acreage estimates. The state’s hay growers are forecasted to harvest 640,000 acres, up 40,000 acres from 2024. At about 60,000 acres, winter wheat acreage saw no change.

Peanut growers in Mississippi intend to plant about 30,000 acres in 2025, up 15% from last year.