Eager World Awaits American Crop Bounty
in the face of dwindling stocks of major field crops and fears of global shortages.

A huge U.S. harvest is in the works in 2011, in the face of dwindling stocks of major field crops and fears of global shortages. High prices will reward farmers, who will seed up to 9 million acres more in 2011 than last. Demand and price will dictate what gets planted most.
Corn
Acres planted in 2010: 88.2 million
Projected acres planted in 2011: 92.5 million

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Fall price 2010: $4.55/bu.
Projected fall price 2011: $5.80/bu.
If weather permits and demand jumps before farmers plant, corn acreage will jump by as much as six million acres in 2011. With an average 160 bushels/acre yield, that could produce 1.5 billion additional bushels to meet food and ethanol demands. Prices will remain strong despite increased supply.
Soybeans
Acres planted in 2010: 77.4 million
Projected acres planted in 2011: 78 million
Fall price 2010: $11/bu.
Projected fall price 2011: $13/bu.
Record acreages are in the cards and demand is robust. Exports of soybeans plus soy oil and meal are hopping, and Congress goosed demand by extending the biodiesel fuel blender subsidy. Another plus: Soft winter wheat will be harvested in Midwestern and eastern states by early summer and many fields reseeded with soybeans.
Cotton
Acres planted in 2010: 11 million
Projected acres planted in 2011: 12.6 million
Fall price 2010: $0.80/lb.
Projected fall price 2011: $1.50/lb.
Cotton plantings will soar to a five-year peak in 2011, if enough rain comes to parched Texas, which grows half of all U.S. cotton, and if conditions in the rest of the South allow normal planting. If Texas gets rain, acreage will expand 15% in 2011 on top of the 20% jump in 2010. There’s a strong market: Exports to Asia are up 118% since last July, compared with a year earlier.
Spring Wheat
Acres planted in 2010: 13.7 million
Projected acres planted in 2011: 14.2 million
Fall price 2010: $6/bu.
Projected fall price 2011: $8.70/bu.
Wheat acreage will rise only modestly, with increases in Midwestern and Eastern states offset by farmers switching to higher-value crops in other areas.
Rice
Acres planted in 2010: 3.64 million acres
Projected acres planted in 2011: 3.1 million
Fall price 2010: $11.50/cwt.
Projected fall price 2011: $11/cwt.
Rice acreage will fall by 10% to 15% from 2010’s huge crop. Big stocks on hand will keep rice prices in the moderate range, despite strong global demand and sales.
The Known Unknown
Drought on the southern Plains is withering the winter wheat and looming over spring planting. Corn Belt fields mired in mud are likely because of heavy rains, thwarting planting efforts. Late seeding would surely slash crop acreage results.
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

-
When Should You Hand Over the Keys — to Your Investments?
The secret to retirement planning? "The best time to hand over the keys is before you’ve realized you need to hand over the keys."
By Maurie Backman
-
A checklist for high-net-worth individuals looking to maintain and grow their wealth.
A strategic guide to managing, preserving, and expanding your wealth for long-term financial security.
By Dori Zinn
-
The Economic Impact of the US-China Trade War
The Letter The US-China trade war will impact US consumers and business. The decoupling process could be messy.
By David Payne
-
AI Heads to Washington
The Kiplinger Letter There’s big opportunity for AI tools that analyze MRIs and other medical images. But also big challenges that clinicians and companies will have to overcome.
By John Miley
-
The AI Doctor Coming to Read Your Test Results
The Kiplinger Letter There’s big opportunity for AI tools that analyze CAT scans, MRIs and other medical images. But there are also big challenges that human clinicians and tech companies will have to overcome.
By John Miley
-
The New Space Age Takes Off
The Kiplinger Letter From fast broadband to SOS texting, space has never been more embedded in peoples’ lives. The future is even more exciting for rockets, satellites and emerging space tech.
By John Miley
-
Rising AI Demand Stokes Undersea Investments
The Kiplinger Letter As demand soars for AI, there’s a need to transport huge amounts of data across oceans. Tech giants have big plans for new submarine cables, including the longest ever.
By John Miley
-
What DOGE is Doing Now
The Kiplinger Letter As Musk's DOGE pursues its ambitious agenda, uncertainty and legal challenges are mounting — causing frustration for Trump.
By Matthew Housiaux
-
A Move Away From Free Trade
The Letter President Trump says long-term gain will be worth short-term pain, but the pain could be significant this year.
By David Payne
-
The Explosion of New AI Tools
The Kiplinger Letter Workers and consumers soon won’t be able to escape generative AI. Does that mean societal disruption and productivity gains are right around the corner?
By John Miley