REGION

Farmers Emphasize Demand, Not Payments, Is The ‘Bridge To Better Times' For Agriculture

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:26:14 GMT

Two Midwest farmers are pinning their hopes for the future on stronger demand for corn and soybeans — especially the latter — as they navigate tight margins, high input costs, and an uncertain price outlook.

Northern Illinois farmer Steve Pitstick and south-central Iowa farmer Dennis Bogaards say they have exhausted most cost-cutting options for this season. They believe future profitability now rests on whether demand for both crops — particularly from domestic soybean crush and fuel markets — expands enough to support higher prices.

One silver lining currently, Pitstick says, is his relatively strong position on fertilizer heading into the 2026 planting season.

“We will do pretty much the dry spread program we always do,” he says. “We cut the rates a little bit on the phosphates just because of price. We booked our 32% in September, something we traditionally do. We have all the nitrogen bought, so I feel good about 2026 from that aspect.”

While he believes additional fertilizer is available, he notes it will likely be priced at a premium.

“I believe I can get more if I need it. I may not like the price, but I can get more,” he told AgriTalk Host Chip Flory during the weekly Farmer Forum segment.

Little To No Expansion On The Horizon

As the season begins, both farmers emphasize that the coming years will have farmers focusing on survival and strategic adjustments rather than acreage expansion.

One adjustment Bogaards is making is front-loading some of his nitrogen needs this season while leaving a portion open in case prices break.

“We booked anhydrous early on for this year, back in early fall, and got an OK price,” Bogaards says. “I have a little bit of sidedress that we do. We book about half of that, and I sit open on the rest of it. I’ll wait and see where it goes.”

Bogaards remains committed to sidedressing as long as product is available and prices do not continue ratcheting up. “If I can get it, I’ll put it on, unless it is a crazy, crazy price,” he says.

Like many U.S. growers, both Bogaards and Pitstick say there is virtually no room left to cut fertilizer use without risking yields.

“There is no place to cut back. We are being as efficient as we can be,” Pitstick says.

Bogaards agrees, noting that nitrogen is not the place to skimp. “Maybe a year or so, you can cut back on the P and K a little bit, but you do not want to get caught in three or four years of that.”

He also remains reluctant to drop fungicides. “Fungicides really pay off,” he says. “In the past, we did not use them, but the last few years they really paid, and I would hate to not spray them.”

Uncertainty About The 2027 Crop Mix

While the 2026 crop is largely “business as usual,” both farmers told Flory that 2027 brings real uncertainty—especially regarding nitrogen supplies. Pitstick is concerned about how global demand could impact costs for U.S. producers.

“I am worried about the price of the nitrogen,” he says. “It may not be an issue in the United States from a supply standpoint, but the rest of the world… could export our product because of opportunity cost, and that drives the price up. It is a total wait and see.”

Flory underscored how global trade flows directly shape what American farmers pay, noting that some fertilizer shipments originally destined for the U.S. were recently rerouted.

“Some boats are diverted from the U.S. to other countries,” Flory says. “If you want your share, you have to beat the next guy in line with the price.”

If nitrogen prices soar while corn prices stagnate, Pitstick says his rotation could shift. “That might change how we do things in 2027. We may have to go to more soybeans,” he says.

Bogaards also expects to alter his corn–soybean mix, given the potential demand from domestic crush and renewable fuels.

“In the past, we were probably 60% to 65% corn,” he says. “We have been backing off of that. I still do a little bit of corn-on-corn, but I might try to go to a 50–50 rotation.”

Flory believes this shift could help rebalance supplies and improve price prospects. “If we can pull some acres away from corn and get this thing rebalanced, maybe that is our bridge to a better time,” Flory says. “Our bridge to a better time is more demand across the board and crops competing for acres — not another payment.”

Bogaards says the shifting economics are already evident. “A couple of years ago, people said soybeans are a drag on our financial statements. It looks like almost the opposite right now.”

Even so, Bogaards is cautious about making long-term decisions based on short-term signals. “I can change acres right now, but by next fall, it might be the worst decision. I think you have to go with your rotation and stick with it.”

Pitstick links his long-term outlook to fuel sector growth, noting that both corn and soybeans increasingly function as energy crops.

“Some of the most profitable years of my career were when we had high fuel prices because we were also a fuel crop,” he says. “I have some optimism that these high fuel prices will cause some demand and increase our crop prices.”

For now, both farmers say their immediate job is to manage through 2026 while keeping their options open. With high costs for fertilizer, fuel, and machinery, they see expanded demand as the only realistic path forward.

“It is just survival at this point,” Bogaards says. “We just have to make sure we can survive and keep plugging through it.”

You can listen to the complete discussion between Bogaards, Pitstick and Flory on AgriTalk at the link below:

Missouri Farmer Calls Ford Out for Abandoning Ethanol Flex Fuel in New F-150 Trucks

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 20:23:50 GMT

Missouri Corn Growers Association CEO Bradley Schad, who still helps out around the family farm in his spare time, is calling on Ford Motor Company to reconsider a recent decision he believes will cause long-term harm to U.S. farmers.

“They stopped selling new flex fuel vehicles, so now they don’t have a single new engine platform option for growers to purchase,” Schad says. “The F-Series truck is one of the most important vehicles that we have on the farm today. They’re trying to change that (series) to an electric fleet, and we don’t like that.”

Farm Journal reached out to Ford for comment via a contact form for media on its website. We will update this post if we hear back from anyone at Ford Motor Company.

According to Schad, Ford’s F-150 is not only the top-selling truck in the U.S., but also the top-selling used vehicle in the top five corn-producing states: Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota and Indiana. It is also No. 1 in a handful of ag-friendly states like Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, the Dakotas and the Carolinas.

Model Year 2023 was the last iteration of the F-150 that Ford offered with the V8 5.0-liter Flex Fuel option. Schad, who is a longtime F-150 owner, says he’s not interested in criticizing Ford for the change. After all, recent regulations removed many of the manufacturer incentives that used to exist for flex fuel and E-85 vehicles.

Bradley Schad, Missouri Corn Growers Association

(Photo courtesy Missouri Corn Growers Association )

“We’re just trying to bring some awareness and work with Ford to change the legislation and regulations and help bring that (option) back,” Schad says. “We realize it’s not entirely their own fault necessarily, but work with us to pass some beneficial legislation that helps farmers and rural consumers purchase a more economical fuel and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

Schad says Ford is still supporting its higher-ethanol compatible engines in South America. Brazil, for example, has a minimum ethanol blend in its fuel of 27.5%.

The company’s chief truck-building rivals at GM still offer flex fuel as an engine option on new base models of the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra. Ford, it would seem, is stepping away from the same farmers that helped catapult its trucks to the top of the auto industry, he argues.

(Photo courtesy Missouri Corn Growers Association)

“We need Ford to stand strong with farmers – the No. 1 customer base of F Series trucks in the nation. I don’t think there’s any business sector that buys more F Series trucks than the agriculture sector,” he says. “We need Ford to give us the option to use our own product and help build demand for corn-based ethanol.”

RELATED - Grassley: Farmers Can Feed And Fuel The World At The Same Time. It’s Not Either/Or

Schad is optimistic a long-awaited-but-yet-to-be-passed new Farm Bill will include some type of carve out supporting ethanol-based fuels. Republican Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley has also been advocating for year-round E-15 fuel availability for years. Grassley and Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer (R) reintroduced the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 in February. If passed, that bill would enable year-round, nationwide sales of ethanol fuel blends up to 15%.

“We need permanency and predictability with ethanol and biodiesel,” Grassley recently told AgriTalk host Chip Flory.

And while Schad admits he has heard all the critiques of ethanol-based fuels - subpar performance, increased engine problems, etc. - his experience is that higher ethanol fuels are clean burning, high performing and safe.

“There’s nothing more helpful to a farmer than having a strong truck with a strong fuel providing more horsepower and torque in these engines,” Schad says. “Octane is key, and we want to make sure to partner with everyone we can. Hopefully Ford is willing to help us pass some beneficial legislation that brings ethanol the ability to be produced and consumed across the nation.”

Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced USDA will release funding under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) for 543 projects totaling $537 million in 29 states. Established at USDA Rural Development during President Trump’s first term, HBIIP helps expand the production of domestic biofuels by helping fueling stations install the pumps, storage containers and other necessary infrastructure needed to offer biofuel options at the pump.

Your Next Read: Here’s Why 2025 Is The Time To Buy High-Horsepower Tractors, Auction Pricing Is Staying Strong

Soybean Harvest Is Just Beginning in Brazil. Here’s What the Crop Looks Like

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 23:04:15 GMT

The AgResource team has been on the ground in Mato Grosso, Brazil this past week. Here’s a summary of their findings from the soybean rows.

A large Brazilian soybean crop will be harvested in the next 30 to 45 days, and most likely USDA, CONAB (the National Supply Company, a public company under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply in Brazil) and private analysts will be forced to raise Brazilian soybean production estimates by 1 million to 3 million tons (37 million to 110 million bushels). A crop of at least 150 million tons versus 129.5 million last year is guaranteed.

AgResource’s final yield estimate in Mato Grosso, by far the country’s largest producing state, is 60.3 bu. per acre after revisiting possible harvest losses and disease pressure. This is 8 bu. per acre more than CONAB’s current forecast.

Their final stop of the tour in Cuibá, Mato Grosso, the state’s capital, included a visit to an organization called IMEA, which monitors and collects data on all things agriculture in central and western Brazil. IMEA reiterated they, too, are finding yields above expectations.

There will be yield loss in the far south of Brazil, but yield gains in Mato Grosso and surrounding states will more than offset any yield hit.

Harvest losses will likely result from new incurable (for now) diseases. Local farmers suggest it will be a challenge for final yields to exceed 60 bu. But there is very little doubt a massive Brazilian soybean crop will be available to the global marketplace in the coming weeks. Dry weather in Mato Grosso over the next 5 to 7 days will allow harvest, statewide, to reach 6% to 8% complete this weekend. Additionally, safrinha corn planting will occur on a timely basis.

U.S. producers must acknowledge that Brazil will intensely compete for world market share in 2023. IMEA also shared data with AgResource that indicates the area dedicated to soybean production might double over the next decade. Studies show a large portion of Mato Grosso’s current pastureland is conducive to soybean production. With expanded soybean area comes larger safrinha corn production. Price, costs and currency will determine just how quickly expansion occurs, but Brazil does have the ability to help meet larger global soybean, meal and oil consumption over the next decade.

Day by Day Recap

In central Mato Grosso, soybeans generally have high yield potential. On day one of the crop tour, pods per plant ranged from 65 to 182 with yield estimates from 40 bu. to 67 bu. per acre. Harvest is 10 to 14 days away.

In Sorriso, soybean yield will likely hit or exceed record high, but there are a few concerning spots, particularly 250 hectares (620 acres) on the fourth stop of AgResource’s tour. It’s been much wetter than average in central Mato Grosso since Dec. 1, with precipitation ranging from 15.2” to 16.0”, or 105% to 140% more than normal. Standing water is present. The pod-per-plant count was as low as 12, with beans capped at just two per pod. Yield is estimated at 7 bu. per acre.

Harvest has begun but is 8 to 10 days behind schedule.

Day two in Novo Maringá and Ponte de Pedra featured much better yield potential, but confirmation Mato Grosso is struggling with unknown diseases and currently no solutions. Coupled with excessive cloudy days and rainfall, yield potential has been capped but a record crop is still expected.

Stop one featured an average pod count of 76 per plant and an expected 70 bu. per acre yield. However, it’s clear disease has made the pods at the bottom 15% to 20% of the plant unviable. Agronomist Rafael Mandarino suggests pod loss of 10% was probable, which could lower yield to 63 bu. per acre.

Stop two showed further improvement despite disease issues causing probable pod abortion at the lower end of the plant or breakage of stems. AgResource notes that these are two separate diseases. Stop two featured an average pod-per-plant count of 46. Yield is estimated at 70 bu. per acre amid general uniformity.

On the remaining stops of the day, average pod-per-plant count ranged from 53 to 75. Yields ranged from 60 bu. to 80 bu.

To end the day, the AgResource team made their way to a field in Ponte de Pedre, a rather remote area between Nova Moringá and Campo Novo do Parecis. This field was planted later but will still likely be harvested in the next 20 to 25 days (remember defoliate is used). Yield potential is excellent. Pods-per-plant totaled 75. It’s early to say much about yield, but 70 bu. to 75 bu. per acre is possible with drier weather in late January and early February.

Harvest, which is ongoing, will accelerate this week. Combines and safrinha corn planters are active.

On day three, the AgResource’s tour went from Campo Novo Parecis to Cuibá and found mixed results but again validated USDA’s Brazilian soybean production forecast of 153 million tons (5.6 billion bushels, a record) is close. There might be upside potential to only 154 million, but this week’s tour strongly suggests a crop of 150 million tons or better is nearly assured.

Stop one, in Campo Novo Parecis, featured decent pod counts and general uniformity, but also signs of disease, which likely will impact yield at harvest. The average pod-per-plant count was 40. Yield is estimated at 55 bu. per acre, a bit lower than the 60-plus bushels seen in areas farther north and east.

Stop two, in Seringal Tres Lagao, featured an average pod count of 50, though the majority had only two beans. Yield is estimated at 51 bu. per acre. Farmers reported challenges during early planting – the wet season was rather slow to evolve in portions of Mato Grosso – but otherwise there are no major issues. Harvest will begin in this region in 10 to 12 days.

Stop three, in Caju, showed massive improvement, which will likely push Mato Grosso’s soybean yield above CONAB’s current estimate. The average pod count was 65. Approximately 80% of the plants had three-bean pods. Yield is estimated at 71 bu. per acre. Development in this area is a bit delayed. Harvest is expected in the first half of February.

The southern edge of Mato Grosso’s soy belt will perform best. Stop four, in Manoel Laje, featured plants roughly 4 feet tall and very, very green. This field, too, will be harvested in the first half of February but above-trend yields are guaranteed. Pods-per-plant averaged only 42, nearly all of which were three-bean pods. Yield is estimated at 65 bu. per acre.