Acres of Corn and Soybeans Harvested in Iowa

This graph provides historical context on Iowa’s agricultural land use, specifically the acres harvested for corn and soybeans from 1925 to 2025. It illustrates long-term trends in crop production, reflecting economic, technological, and agronomic changes that have occurred over the past century. Corn has been the dominant crop throughout this time, stabilizing at 12–14 million acres since the 1990s. Soybeans, initially negligible, began expanding in the 1940s due to their growing role in livestock feed and oil production, reaching about 10 million acres by the early 2000s.

These trends reflect Iowa’s shift toward a corn-soybean rotation, which helps maintain soil fertility and breaks cycles of corn-specific pests. Soybeans are a major source of protein for livestock feed and are processed into oil for food and industrial uses. Global demand for soy products, including exports to countries such as China, makes soybeans a profitable crop for Iowa farmers. Soybeans are legumes that fix atmospheric nitrogen, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.

The graph also shows periods of volatility, such as sharp drops during the Great Depression and mid-1980s farm crisis, underscoring the impact of environmental stressors and subsequent economic issues on land use. Overall, the image contextualizes Iowa’s evolution into a leading producer of corn and soybeans, which are central to U.S. agriculture and the global food system.