INPUTS
With most input prices still record or near-record high, farmers in parts of the country have seen eroding balance sheets for four straight years. Now the concern is more farmers will be forced out of farming this year, unless they see some type of market or government intervention.
As farmers think about 2026 cropping plans, step one is to book fall fertilizer. However, those plans are leading to challenging discussions about profitability and what can be applied as a bare minimum.
Applying lessons learned from its first portal launched seven years ago, the Nutrien Ag Solutions Hub brings forward solutions for how farmers work with its ag retail business.
The inescapable crop math of sustained crippling commodity prices and high input costs has many growers screaming for immediate relief. However, bailouts are Band-Aids over bullet holes, contend farmers desperate for fundamental change.
NCGA’s Krista Swanson says it would take about 226 bu. of corn to buy a ton of ammonium phosphate, which is up from the 180 bu. it took at the beginning of this year. As fertilizer costs are on the rise, corn prices are now at or below $4, and it’s creating a grim outlook for 2026.
Camaraderie is cathartic. It lifts spirits, gives encouragement and reminds all of us we are valuable. Check out what farmers have to say about this year’s corn crop – the good, the bad and the in-between – and may their experiences lighten your load in the process.
Many early-planted soybeans in the Midwest are in the R2 to R3 growth stages now, ideal treatment timing for most disease issues. Agronomists offer three reminders to help you make the call — plus a fourth tip on herbicide rescue treatments.
Josh Linville, vice president of Fertilizer for StoneX Financial Inc., says the current fertilizer and corn price ratio is at historic levels with potash the worst in history, UAN the second worst in history, and urea ranking as the third worst.
AgReliant was founded in 2000 as a joint venture between global seed companies KWS and Limagrain
As a director of an on-farm research business with a footprint in North Dakota and Iowa, and a 3,000-acre farmer himself, Chad Rubbelke approaches long-standing struggles with optimism that the next idea may just work.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says one of the challenges the U.S. is dealing with is trying to negotiate agreements with 18 of its biggest trading partners simultaneously. Grassley would like to see a dialed-back strategy used instead.
“This is the next step in helping ag retailers actually understand what’s happening with their customers,” said Steven Valencsin, CEO of Growers.
As one of the most important early season nutrients, Farm Journal field agronomist Ken Ferrie explains the best way to manage phosphorus is one you’ve probably heard of before.
“It’s another option to have some control over fertilizer prices, which have been extremely volatile in the past couple of years,” says Josh Linville vice president of fertilizer at StoneX.
Kyle Barton, procurement manager at Simplot Grower Solutions, along with his team manage the supply chain of crop protection, adjuvants, micronutrients, and biologicals for the company’s retail locations west of the Rocky Mountains.
Knowing the final plant population as well as the uniformity of the stand can guide you in deciding whether you will benefit most from keeping the current crop or ripping it out and replanting, says Missy Bauer, Farm Journal Field Agronomist.
Earlier this spring, Bayer leadership confirmed it’s engaging in the multifront approach to limit its legal liabilities as the only domestic manufacturer of glyphosate.
“Let’s just put it this way, things are happening this spring we’ve never seen before,” says Josh Linville, vice president of fertilizer at StoneX.
The market might not be as hot as it was two years ago, but it still sizzles. The economics of low supply and strong demand are keeping prices fairly stable with only slight reductions seen this spring, depending on the location and quality, says Colton Lacina, Farmers National Company.
The regulations are a response by EPA to enforce the Endangered Species Act at the agency level rather than through litigation and the court system.
The Department of Commerce will now issue and announce the final duty rates on the imported products.
North Dakota becomes first state to enact law focusing on federal labels for product use and safety
Research details the opportunity with four key services.
On average, ag aviation makes at least one application to approximately 127 million crop acres, or one-third of the cropland in the U.S.
“The sourcing from international markets has become mandatory. It’s more likely that things will get expensive than change,” says Jim DiLisi of Fanwood Chemical.
A small group of farmers had the chance to meet with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s team last week. They described the conversation as enlightening and eye-opening, but their biggest takeaway was how open Kennedy’s team was to hearing their point of view.
In 2023, the U.S. imported nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer products valued at more than $10 billion, and of that more than half came from Canada.
With a career focusing in nutrient management, earlier this winter Tom Snipes became CEO of fertilizer breakout company Ostara as it continues to expand the footprint with its Crystal Green fertilizer.
With this year’s spraying season quickly approaching, there are a few steps you can take now to prepare for the busy months ahead. One of them includes preparing a kit of items you will need during applications.
“When applied with synthetic nitrogen, it is optimized by 50%, so in other words rates can be reduced–dramatically,” Darin Moon says. “It’s a monstrous claim. We aren’t throwing that number out lightly.”