NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Southern row-crop producers closed 2025 facing another season marked by weather extremes, tight margins, and shifting acreage decisions — a combination that kept many farms near or below breakeven for the third consecutive year. For growers across the region, higher production costs and persistently weak commodity prices continued to outweigh localized yield gains.
Extension economists from Alabama to Texas report similar themes. Widespread prevented planting, late-season drought, and new pest pressures — including the expanding cotton jassid — lowered yield potential and added to input and management costs. Even where corn, cotton, peanut, or soybean yields exceeded five-year averages, many producers struggled to capture price rallies due to limited storage, early harvest timing, or cautious marketing strategies.
Financial stress intensified as producers faced negative returns, high interest expenses, and tighter credit standards. Several states highlighted growing concerns about depleted working capital and multi-year operating debt that will carry into 2026 — especially on row-crop-focused farms without livestock income to offset losses.
Acreage patterns shifted notably. Corn gained ground at the expense of cotton in multiple states, while peanuts expanded in Georgia, and rice acreage climbed in Louisiana. Soybeans held their footprint in some areas but declined sharply in others amid lower prices and early-season weather delays.
Looking ahead, Extension specialists warn that producers will enter 2026 with elevated cost structures, uncertain price trends, and heightened reliance on ad hoc assistance, making crop insurance, rotations, and marketing discipline critical for financial survival.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Southern producers head into 2026 with thin margins, tighter credit, and rising agronomic risks despite scattered yield improvements.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
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