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
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For rural communities, this shift could mean new housing options for farmworkers and young families priced out of metro markets.
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