Trader PhD Blog

Trader PhD Survey Predicts More Soybean Acres, Strong Corn Plantings

Trader PhD’s February 2026 acreage survey shows U.S. corn plantings slipping 1.4% to 97.3 million acres, while soybean acres climb 3.5% to 84.2 million. Wheat acreage is projected at a record‑low 42.2 million acres, a 7.3% decline. Sixty‑two percent of growers cite normal crop rotation as the primary planting driver, with crop prices the second‑most important factor. The soybean rally, fueled by a China‑U.S. trade truce, is the key catalyst for the shift.