-Farm News file photo
In Iowa, the estimated acres planted to corn is down slightly from 13.1 million acres to last year's 13.55 million acres. The acreage planted to soybeans in Iowa for 2026 has been estimated at 9.9 million acres, up slightly from last year's 9.45 million acres planted.

Spring planting fieldwork prep has started across the state, but concerns about the cost of rising expenses could prompt producers to shift acres from corn to soybeans, which is already evidenced in the latest prospective planting report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In fact, in the March 31 prospective plantings report released by the USDA, the total area planted to corn for 2026 has been estimated at 95.3 million acres, down 3 percent or 3.45 million acres from last year. Compared with last year, planted acreage is expected to be down or unchanged in 37 of the 48 estimating states. Soybean planted area for 2026 was estimated at 84.7 million acres in the report, up 4 percent from last year. Compared with last year, soybean planted acreage is up or unchanged in 20 of the 29 estimating states.

In Iowa, the estimated acres planted to corn is down slightly from 13.1 million acres to last year’s 13.55 million acres. The acreage planted to soybeans in Iowa for 2026 has been estimated at 9.9 million acres, up slightly from last year’s 9.45 million acres planted.

Angie Rieck-Hinz, Iowa State University Extension agronomist in northern Iowa, said that producers have been busy applying dry fertilizer, anhydrous ammonia and lime applications in her area. Spring tillage also is underway, and in her area, oats are being seeded.

She said producers haven’t indicated that they’re switching from corn to soybean acres due to concerns about southern rust.

“Yes, we had southern rust, but there is no reason for acres to switch based on southern rust, because it does not overwinter in Iowa and it is way too early to talk about southern rust in 2026,” Rieck-Hinz said. “If acres change at this point, it will be because farmers didn’t put down anhydrous last fall and they have decided to switch to beans this spring to avoid high nitrogen costs. I don’t get the sense a lot of that is happening, but I don’t ask people either.”

Fertilizer costs are a concern for farmers, and some producers are cutting back on phosphorus and potassium inputs.

“But there was a lot of P and K fall-applied at normal rates and before prices skyrocketed,” Rieck-Hinz said. “Of course rising costs are a big concern to farmers, but we would never tell people not to put on fertilizer if their soil tests are low or very low, because they will still see a return on their investment. That is a different story for soil testing in the high and very high categories.”

Producers keeping an eye on their bottom line hopefully have already pre-paid for their fertilizer, but if not, they should be checking in with their dealer.

“If they want to have a conversation about best practices with high fertilizer costs, they should talk to their Extension agronomist,” Rieck-Hinz said.

Gentry Sorenson, ISU Extension field agronomist in the northwestern area of the state, said fertilizer and anhydrous both are being applied in his area, but some fields have been too wet from snowfall and rain.

“Most of the area actually is untouched for field work,” Sorenson said.

Leah Ten Napel, an ISU Extension field agronomist working with farmers in the far northwest corner of the state, said manure, dry fertilizer and anhydrous are all being applied in her area and farmers have been busy with spring tillage.

“Most farmers in my area had the fertilizer purchased and/or applied at this point. From what I am hearing, the supply issues and price increases of fertilizer are not having a large impact,” Ten Napel said. “At winter meetings, we talked with them about southern rust, along with the other disease possibilities of the growing season. We do not know the conditions we will see and which diseases we will be dealing with. But we give farmers the tools to identify favorable conditions and diseases, and make application decisions in-season.”

Meaghan Anderson, ISU Extension field agronomist covering central Iowa, said she’s seen farmers spraying fields in her area. While southern rust ended up becoming a major issue in her region, she said it didn’t affect planting plans.

“Many farmers had fertilizer applied last fall or prepaid for their fertilizer this spring,” Anderson said, “but those who didn’t are likely reconsidering what they need due to high prices.”