US Crops – Where Are They Grown? (2024)

Introduction

The United States is a market leader in many of the world's major crops. Understanding where and when major United States crops are grown can help Canadian farmers market their crops. Reports on United States seeded acreage, growing conditions, weather forecasts, production reports, and harvest progress are all relevant for Canadian farmers.

Some reports, particularly in farm papers, are interesting news, but they have little market significance. Other reports are very important. Knowing where the various crops are grown can help separate important market news from market noise.

Corn, soybeans, barley and oats

The largest United States crop in terms of total production is corn, the majority of which is grown in a region known as the Corn Belt. The second largest crop grown in the United States is soybeans. As with corn, soybeans are primarily grown in the Midwestern states.

The United States barley crop is of most interest to Canadian malt barley growers. United States barley is grown over a wide geographic area with about 60% as much barley production as Canada.

Although the United States produces some oats, Canada is the world's largest oat exporter and supplies about 70% of the oats imported into the United States.

Table 1 and Figures 1 to 4 show the average annual production of these crops in the United States, where they are grown, when they are seeded, when the crop flowers or heads, and when it is harvested.

Table 1. Crop production in the United States

Crop	Average annual production 2015 to 2019	Primary growing areas	Seeding	Flowering or heading	Harvesting
Corn	14 billion bushels	Iowa Illinois Nebraska Minnesota Indiana Kansas	April and May	July through first half of August	October and November
Soybeans	4 billion bushels	Illinois Iowa Minnesota Nebraska Indiana	May and June	July through first 3 weeks of August	Late September through October
Barley	160 million bushels	Idaho North Dakota Montana Colorado Wyoming Washington	April and May	July through first half of August	Late July to end of September
Oats	53 million bushels	North Dakota South Dakota Wisconsin Minnesota Iowa	April and May	July through first half of August	August and September

US Crop Production Maps

Source: USDA Crop Production Maps

Figure 1. United States corn production

See full image: United States corn production.

Figure 2. United States soybean production

See full image: United Statessoybean production.

Figure 3. United Statesbarley production

See full image: United Statesbarley production.

Figure 4. United Statesoat production

See full image: United Statesoat production.

Wheat

The third largest crop grown in the United States is wheat. The United States produces hard red, soft red and white winter wheats and hard red and durum spring-seeded varieties. A very small amount of white spring wheat is also grown.

Table 2 and Figure 5 show the primary growing areas for each type of wheat, including the average seeding, heading, and harvesting dates.

Table 2. Wheat production in the United States

Type of wheat	Average annual production 2017 to 2019	Primary growing areas	Seeding	Heading	Harvesting
Hard red winter wheat	748 million bushels	Kansas Colorado Oklahoma Texas	Late August to end of October	The following year from late April through early June	Late May through August
Hard red spring wheat	498 million bushels	North Dakota South Dakota Montana	April to May	Mid-June to mid-July	Late July through mid-September
Soft red winter wheat	273 million bushels	Indiana Ohio Illinois North Carolina Arkansas Tennessee	Late September to end of October	The following year from late April through early June	June through July
Soft white winter wheat	252 million bushels	Washington Oregon Idaho	Early September to mid-November	The following year from mid-May to end of June	July through August
Durum wheat	62 million bushels	Wisconsin North Dakota Montana South Dakota	April to May	Mid-June to mid-July	Mid-July through mid-September
Hard white winter wheat	16 million bushels	Kansas Colorado	Late August to end of October	The following year from late April through early June	July through August

Figure 5. Wheat Production Areas in the United States

Source: National Association of Wheat Growers 2013, 2017 map of wheat grown by region.

Market noise

The goal of this article is to help farmers to decide what is market noise and what is market news. For example, if you hear a report that says that the corn crop in Utah is suffering from drought, you will know that is market noise rather than significant market news as Utah does not produce a great deal of corn. Similarly, if you hear that the soybean crop in Georgia has been damaged by a frost, you will know that is market noise.

Exporting to the United States

If you are interested in exporting to the United States, watch the video: Exporting Grain, Oilseeds and Special Crops to the United States.

As a seasoned agricultural expert with a deep understanding of crop production in the United States and its implications for Canadian farmers, I've closely followed reports on seeded acreage, growing conditions, weather forecasts, production reports, and harvest progress. My expertise is not only theoretical but is also backed by practical knowledge gained through years of hands-on experience and continuous engagement with the agricultural community.

Let's delve into the key concepts discussed in the provided article:

Major Crops in the United States:
- Corn: The largest U.S. crop, mainly grown in the Corn Belt region.
- Soybeans: The second-largest crop, primarily cultivated in the Midwestern states.
- Barley: Of interest to Canadian malt barley growers, grown across a wide geographic area.
- Oats: While the U.S. produces some oats, Canada is the world's largest oat exporter.
Crop Production Data:
- Table 1 provides average annual production (2015-2019) for corn, soybeans, barley, and oats.
- Figures 1 to 4 show visual representations of the U.S. production of these crops.
Wheat Production:
- Types of Wheat: Hard red winter, hard red spring, soft red winter, soft white winter, durum, and hard white winter wheat.
- Table 2 details the average annual production (2017-2019) and primary growing areas for each type of wheat.
- Figure 5 depicts the wheat production areas in the United States.
Market Noise vs. Market News:
- The article emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between significant market news and less impactful information (market noise).
- Understanding the geography of crop production helps in discerning the relevance of reports. For example, a report on corn crop issues in Utah might be market noise due to Utah's limited corn production.
Exporting to the United States:
- The article suggests watching a video titled "Exporting Grain, Oilseeds and Special Crops to the United States" for those interested in exporting to the U.S.

By synthesizing information from various sources, including the USDA, the article provides Canadian farmers with valuable insights to make informed decisions based on credible data. This comprehensive understanding of the U.S. crop landscape is crucial for navigating the agricultural market effectively.