The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the annual Acreage report on June 30, 2026. Estimates of acreage planted are largely based on surveys completed between May 28 and June 19, from a sample of approximately 90,300 farm operators. This is the first release of 2026 acreage estimates since the March Prospective Plantings. The total planted acreage for all principal crops is estimated at 309.6 million acres, down 0.1% from the 310 million acres estimated in March. This also represents a 0.6% decrease from the 311.5 million acres planted in 2025. The principal crop acreage for southern states is estimated at 69.4 million acres, down from the 69.6 million acres planted in 2025 and estimated in March for 2026.
While the overall acreage estimates for all principal crops are essentially flat, there are some individual crop specific differences. Table 1 shows the June 2026 Acreage report estimates for corn, wheat, long-grain rice, soybeans, peanuts, and upland cotton in the southern states. Comparisons to the March 2026 Prospective Plantings report and 2025 actual acreage are presented, with percent changes calculated for each. The largest percent deviation from the March intentions was for long-grain rice (down 16%) and peanuts (down 8.6%). Both of those crops also represent large decreases in acreage compared to actual 2025 plantings, with long-grain rice down 35% and peanuts down 21.8%. Decreases in acreage of long-grain rice and peanuts compared to 2025 are estimated across all producing states in the region, with the exception of peanut production in Oklahoma, which is flat.
Upland cotton and soybean acreage in southern states are the two crops presented in Table 1 that are estimated to increase in acreage. Compared to 2025, cotton is up 6.8%, and soybeans are up 10.1%. These acreage estimates are also higher than the reported March planting intentions for these crops. All southern states reported an increase in acreage for cotton compared to 2025, except Arkansas (-9.6%) and Virginia (-17.8%), while only Virginia (-6.7%) has an estimated decrease in soybean acreage. Corn acreage is also expected to be down across the southern states, both compared to 2025 actual acreage and March intentions. Florida and Arkansas are the two southern state exceptions, with corn acreage estimated to be higher by 17.6% and 2.5%, respectively, compared to 2025.
The comparison between reported acreage follows a similar trend nationally, as shown in Table 2. However, percent changes from 2025 actuals show a larger overall percent decrease in corn acreage in southern states compared to the total United States. There is also a larger overall percent increase in soybean acreage in southern states compared to the total United States.
One question in anticipation of this report was how planting estimates would compare to March intentions. In particular, the pre-season survey occurred prior to the conflict in the Middle East and the transportation constraints through the Strait of Hormuz. These issues have raised concerns about higher fertilizer and fuel costs with the potential for farmers to alter planting strategies in response. The June Acreage report is the first acreage check to give an indication of the effects of these global pressures. While individual farmers may have made changes, it appears that, on aggregate, there has been little to no impact on 2026 plantings. The increase in cotton futures market prices and lack of peanut contracts would more likely explain the respective increase in cotton acres and decrease in peanut acres between the March and June reports. Weather is going to be the next big market mover through the summer as refined estimates of acreage are published by the USDA.
Table 1. Southern States Crop Acreage Reported by USDA: June 2026 with Comparison to March 2026 and 2025 Actuals
| Crop | June 2026 Acreage Report | March 2026 Prospective Plantings | 2025 Actual Acreage | Percent Change from 2025 Actual | Percent Change from March 2026 |
| Corn | 10,200 | 10,290 | 10,815 | -5.7% | -0.9% |
| Wheat | 11,165 | 11,780 | 11,495 | -2.9% | -5.2% |
| Rice (Long-grain) | 1,235 | 1,470 | 1,900 | -35.0% | -16.0% |
| Soybeans | 13,275 | 13,225 | 12,060 | 10.1% | 0.4% |
| Peanuts | 1,507 | 1,649 | 1,926 | -21.8% | -8.6% |
| Cotton (Upland) | 9,130 | 8,915 | 8,549 | 6.8% | 2.4% |
| All Principal Crops | 69,448 | 69,586 | 69,592 | -0.2% | -0.2% |
Southern states is the sum of acreage reported for Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Table 2. United States Crop Acreage Reported by USDA: June 2026 with Comparison to March 2026 and 2025 Actuals
| Crop | June 2026 Acreage Report | March 2026 Prospective Plantings | 2025 Actual Acreage | Percent Change from 2025 Actual | Percent Change from March 2026 |
| Corn | 95,343 | 95,338 | 98,788 | -3.5% | 0.0% |
| Wheat | 42,740 | 43,775 | 45,328 | -5.7% | -2.4% |
| Rice (Long-grain) | 1,395 | 1,648 | 2,118 | -34.1% | -15.4% |
| Soybeans | 85,365 | 84,700 | 81,215 | 5.1% | 0.8% |
| Peanuts | 1,528 | 1,674 | 1,953 | -21.8% | -8.7% |
| Cotton (Upland) | 9,700 | 9,510 | 9,141 | 6.1% | 2.0% |
| All Principal Crops | 309,639 | 309,951 | 311,543 | -0.6% | -0.1% |
Acreage in thousands.
Recommended citation format: Rabinowitz, Adam. “June Acreage Report Shows Larger Acreage Decline for Peanuts and Rice.” Southern Ag Today 6(27.3). July 1, 2026. Permalink
