The U.S. Department of Agri­culture’s (USDA) reports last week provided an early outlook for planting intentions for the 2015 season, as well as a glimpse of old-crop corn and soybeans.

Farmers intend to plant 89.2 million acres of corn across the United States this year, the USDA said in its prospective plantings report. If realized, that would be down 2 percent from last year.

Iowa...