Corn and soybean acreage has increased since the 1995, while fewer acres are planted with wheat and cotton

Since 1995, combined acreage planted to corn, wheat, soybeans, and upland cotton in the United States has ranged from 220 million to 242 million acres. Starting in the 1990s, policy changes increased the planting flexibility provided to farmers. These changes have allowed farmers to respond to market signals in their cropping choices. Over the past 10 years (2016–25), the combined annual planting acreage for these crops has maintained a slightly higher average (235 million acres) than the prior decade (234 million acres). Since 1995, the three highest combined annual planting totals for these crops occurred in 2012, 2014, and 2018. Combined acreage in 2025 decreased from the prior year to 234 million acres with decreases in soybean, wheat, and cotton plantings more than offsetting increases in corn. Combined planted acreage for the four crops in 2025 marked their 13th largest total since 1995.