AgMarket.Net's Bennett Says Soybean Rally, Input Costs Could Shift Acres in '26

By Jared White

Brownfield

The co-founder of AgMarket.net says he expects U.S. farmers to plant fewer corn acres in 2026.

Matt Bennett tells Brownfield, “We know it’s going to be a struggle for producers in ‘26 with these high input costs, particularly fertilizer,” he says, “and so you’ve got to think corn acres will scale back to an extent.”

Bennett says China’s re-entry into the U.S. soybean market and its subsequent rally may also play a factor.

“You should be able to pick up 3 or 4 million soybean acres, just your typical corn and beans, beans to corn guys should necessitate that corn acres come down somewhat,” he says.

He says a wildcard could be southern cotton acres.

“Especially considering the cotton markets have been a dog for quite some time, and it’s pretty expensive to put cotton out.”  He says, “I would assume some of those cotton acres could scale back, but at the same time, if we can get one of these markets fired up, we may be able to get into a bit of an acreage battle.”

Bennett says fewer corn acres, coupled with record demand, would bode well for the commodity’s long-term price outlook.

Brownfield spoke with Bennett at NAFB’s 2025 Trade Talk in Kansas City.