U.S. soybean planting season begins

U.S. soybean planting season begins
Apr 16, 2025
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

About 2 percent of the crop is in the ground

U.S. farmers have started planting the 2025 soybean crop.

About 2 percent of national soybean acres are in the ground, the USDA’s April 15 Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin says.

With growers estimated to plant 83.5 million acres of soybeans in 2025, this means American farmers have planted about 1.67 million acres so far.

To put that number into perspective, Maryland farmers planted 1.52 million acres of soybeans in 2024.

Louisiana farmers have planted the most soybeans so far in 2025.

Farmers in the state have planted about 22 percent of their crop, the USDA’s report says. This is up from 19 percent at the same time in 2024.

Mississippi growers have planted 15 percent of their acres, followed by Arkansas producers at 14 percent. Other major states are reporting anywhere between 1 and 5 percent.

Corn planting continues across the U.S.

About 4 percent of the national crop is in the ground, the USDA reports.

This means about 3.81 million of the intended 95.3 million corn acres are planted.

Farmers in Texas half passed the halfway point and have planted 63 percent of their 2025 corn acres.

The next state closest to Texas is North Carolina with 19 percent.

Only seven of the 18 major corn states are reporting no planting progress as of April 15.

Farmers are progressing with spring wheat planting in 2025.

About 7 percent of national acres are in the ground, per the USDA’s reporting.

This is up from 3 percent last week.

Of the six top spring wheat producing states, Idaho farmers have planted the most with 38 percent.

And the winter wheat crop continues to develop.

About 8 percent of the crop has headed, up from 5 percent last week.

Winter wheat in Texas, California, and Arkansas are the furthest along with between 30 and 60 percent headed, respectively.

In terms of crop condition, about 70 percent of California’s winter wheat is rated as excellent.