Record Peanut Crop Leaves Market Searching for Direction

Strong supplies and rising stocks point to continued price pressure unless demand accelerates.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD NEWS) — U.S. peanut growers enter 2026 facing abundant supplies after record production in 2025, with acreage, output, and ending stocks all pointing to continued market pressure. USDA data show peanut planted area reached 1.95 million acres last year — the highest since 1991 — driven largely by expanded acreage in Georgia and Texas.

National peanut yields averaged 3,767 pounds per acre, modestly higher than 2024 but below the five-year average. Georgia posted stronger year-over-year yields, while Texas recorded its lowest state yield since the mid-1990s, partially offsetting gains elsewhere. Despite mixed yields, total U.S. peanut production reached an estimated 3.59 million tons, up 11 percent and narrowly setting a new record.

Demand is expected to grow in the 2025-26 marketing year, but not fast enough to absorb the larger crop. USDA projects peanut disappearance rising 6 percent, while ending stocks are forecast to climb 24 percent, keeping downward pressure on prices.

Looking ahead, competing crops offer little relief. Corn and cotton prices remain soft, suggesting peanut acreage could stay elevated in 2026 despite heavier supplies.

Farm-Level Takeaway: Strong supplies and rising stocks point to continued price pressure unless demand accelerates.
Tony St. James, RFD NEWS Markets Specialist
Related Stories
Record ethanol production, coupled with stronger demand, supports corn use despite tighter margins elsewhere.
A new maritime biofuels coalition aims to position ocean shipping as a significant growth market for U.S. crops and waste-derived fuels.
Larger operations maintain cost advantages, while softer equipment sales suggest producers are pacing machinery upgrades amid tighter margins.
Corn and wheat exports remain supportive, but weaker soybean demand — especially from China — continues to pressure oilseed markets.
Tim and Sharyn Abbott of the Music City Celebration Sale recap the weekend’s premier auction, which drew top dairy breeders and buyers to Nashville again this year from across North America.
Fertilizer markets face uncertainty after President Trump raised the possibility of tariffs on Canadian imports, with analysts warning of supply and pricing risks. Josh Linville with StoneX provides a fertilizer industry outlook.

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Clear right-to-repair guidance reduces downtime, repair costs, and operational risk.
Winter Weather And Markets Reshape Agriculture Nationwide This Week
Shrinking sheep numbers contrast with gradual goat expansion, signaling tighter lamb supplies but steadier growth potential for meat goats.
Falling livestock prices, combined with higher input costs, continue to squeeze farm profitability heading into 2026.
Smaller cow numbers and a declining calf crop point to prolonged tight cattle supplies, limiting near-term herd rebuilding potential.
Strong rail demand and higher fuel costs raise transportation risk even as barge and export flows stabilize.