CHESTERFIELD, Mo. (RFD NEWS) — Record-high corn supplies are adding new pressure to farmers as the industry heads into another year of tight margins. With expanding production, lingering input cost concerns, and uncertainty surrounding policy and trade, corn growers are closely watching the forces expected to shape prices and profitability in the months ahead.
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Chief Economist Krista Swanson joined us to break down the economic outlook for corn producers and the key factors influencing the market.
In her interview with RFD NEWS, Swanson highlighted planted acres and a growing supply as primary drivers weighing on corn prices, explaining how acreage decisions and strong production continue to build stocks. She also addressed fertilizer markets, noting how last year’s geopolitical volatility still factors into cost expectations as producers prepare for the 2026 growing season.
Swanson discussed the financial outlook for corn farmers facing the combination of high input costs and lower commodity prices, offering insight into how those pressures are shaping planting decisions and risk management strategies. She also weighed in on interest rates, explaining how potential moves by the Federal Open Market Committee could influence borrowing costs and on-farm investment decisions.
Trade was another major focus of the conversation, with Swanson emphasizing the importance of the upcoming U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) review and its potential impact on U.S. corn exports. She also pointed to ethanol as a critical demand driver, outlining how expanded ethanol use could play a significant role in alleviating excess corn supplies in both the short and long term.
Sen. Roger Marshall, a founding member and chairman of the Make America Healthy Again caucus, joined us with his thoughts on the commission’s latest report and the key ag-related issues.
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