By Cassidy Walter
Successful Farming
Corn and soybean prices have trended down for more than three years, squeezing margins. As preparations for the 2026 crop begin, are farmers looking at another tight year? Experts indicate most likely yes. What about the year after that and beyond? Maybe.
“If you look at corn yields since the invention of the hybrids, they’ve been basically going up by roughly two bushels per acre per year,” Iowa State University Extension Economist Chad Hart said. “Which means the corn market is constantly searching for more and more usage. And if it doesn’t find that usage right away, what tends to happen? Our stocks build, and prices fall.”