The Prospective Plantings report for corn is a major annual publication by the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). It provides the first official survey-based estimate of the total acreage that U.S. farmers intend to plant with corn for the upcoming growing season. This data is crucial for commodity traders and analysts as it sets the baseline for potential supply and influences global corn prices. Market participants closely compare these figures against private estimates to determine market direction.
The data is collected through a survey of approximately 80,000 farm operators across the United States during the first two weeks of March. The USDA uses a combination of mail, internet, and personal interviews to gather planting intentions for the current crop year.
| Date | Actual | Forecast | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 2024 | 90.04 | 91.78 | -1.74 |
| Mar 31, 2023 | 92.00 | 90.88 | +1.12 |
| Mar 31, 2022 | 89.49 | 92.00 | -2.51 |
| Mar 31, 2021 | 91.14 | 93.21 | -2.06 |
The latest reading is within its usual range, less than one standard deviation from the mean.
