The big USDA Prospective Plantings report — one with often historically significant market implications moving into the growing season — is a week away, and the pre-report estimates continue to stream in. The latest pegs the 2021 corn crop at 93.6 million acres and soybean crop at 88.5 million acres. That corn number is slightly higher and the soybean number slightly lower than previous estimates and reflects U.S. growers’ general preferences for corn this year, given continued tight stocks and global demand. And while winter wheat acres are up in 2021 compared to last year, farmers are likely to sacrifice spring wheat acres in the northern Plains to plant row crops. China demand is the primary market driver to watch to get a few for how the 2021 crop will contribute to the domestic and global stocks situation for corn and soybeans, but the same is also true for wheat; for this marketing year, China will import more U.S. wheat than it has since 1994. The net effect of it all for farmers is a strong likelihood of a grain market rally this summer. See more on the acreage battle.