CoBank 2026 Outlook: Global Grain Surpluses, Heavier Carcasses, and Tech Expansion Shape the Year Ahead

CoBank’s 2026 Year Ahead Report cites global grain oversupply, easing inflation, rate cuts, and major data center growth that could reshape rural America.

NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) — New data this week offers a look at what the agriculture sector could face next year. CoBank’s 2026 Year Ahead Report identifies several areas it believes will shape the industry.

On the grain side, CoBank estimates a global oversupply. They warn U.S. farmers will face many hard choices before spring planting. For proteins, economists said heavier carcasses and smarter feeding will be key priorities in the year ahead.

Regarding the overall economy, CoBank said core inflation will likely soften further in the second half of the year. Economists also expect more interest rate cuts in 2026, following three modest cuts in 2025.

Digital infrastructure is also a key component of the report. CoBank reports a surge in demand for data centers, and rural towns are often ideal locations. While there has been pushback, they say companies like Microsoft and Amazon are writing big checks to be part of those communities, forecasting that communities rejecting data center projects could trigger significant financial losses for rural areas in the months and years ahead.

READ MORE: CoBank - Ample global supplies and trade uncertainty will burden markets in 2026

Related Stories
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) shares his perspective on the U.S.-China trade developments and their potential impact on American producers, farmers, and ranchers.
Prepare for softer milk checks into winter, watch cull-cow values and timing, and stress-test cash flow as product prices recalibrate.
Cattle markets are collapsing this week, and analysts say that several factors are at play. Consumer beef prices also remain near all-time highs, threatening long-term demand.
The President’s trip to Asia this week follows a trade mission by the Iowa Soybean Association. Farmers say they were reminded that U.S. soybeans have an international reputation that can be easy to take for granted here at home.
The U.S.-Japan tech pact signals long-term investment in bio-innovation, connectivity, and secure supply chains — all of which can strengthen rural manufacturing, ag exports, and digital infrastructure critical to the next generation of farm productivity.
Harvest Marches on as River Logistics And Inputs Steer Bids
John Appel with the Farmers Business Network (FBN) joins us for a closer look at the 2026 Crop Protection Market Outlook Report.
Imported lean beef continues to play a critical role in U.S. hamburger and ground-beef production, with any added volume from Argentina serving as a supplement — not a market overhaul.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, adding a decade of experience in the digital side of broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

While the agriculture industry hoped details on proposed “bridge” payments for farmers would be released this week, Ag Secretary Brook Rollins said the USDA is still working with the White House on the finer points.
Federal lawyers submitted a brief this week backing Bayer’s argument that federal laws governing herbicides like Roundup should prevent lawsuits over the popular chemical.
China’s renewed purchases signal improving sorghum demand at a time when export markets are otherwise uneven. Meanwhile, agriculture groups across the U.S, Canada, and Mexico want to protect close trade relations.
The Cotton-4 are pushing hard for new value chain investments. Still, many U.S. cotton producers face unsustainable losses, and weakened regional textile capacity threatens the survival of the Carolina “dirt-to-shirt” supply chain.
Tryston Beyrer, Crop Nutrition Lead at The Mosaic Company, examines planning trends as producers weigh corn and soybean plantings for 2026.
Brooks York with AgriSompo joins us to offer an update on what agents are prioritizing as the calendar year winds down.