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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallAt the 2026 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, farm leaders described a squeeze from elevated costs for fertilizer, seed, chemicals, machinery and repairs while crop prices remained weak. Their accounts point to pressure on both farm margins and cash flow—not one simple cause or a single fix.
What farmers said at Commodity Classic
DTN’s Chris Clayton reported on March 2, 2026, on conversations from the event’s opening day the prior week in San Antonio. Jed Bower, an Ohio farmer and then-president of the National Corn Growers Association, said farmers had heated discussions with fertilizer, seed, chemical and machinery suppliers, then tried to find common ground.
Suppliers cited supply-chain problems and differences in sourcing, Bower said. He argued that those explanations did not solve farmers’ immediate problem: “At the end of the day, that doesn’t help farmers at all.” The account describes growers’ frustration; it does not establish a single explanation for supplier prices.
The pressure involved both sides of the margin equation. DTN characterized it as the fourth year of low commodity prices alongside stubbornly high input costs. Farm Credit Mid-America’s Natasha Cox said liquidity was eroding quickly, particularly in the Corn Belt. That matters because a farm can face strain not only when expenses exceed revenue, but also when cash arrives later than bills come due.
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What the later Purdue survey adds
A national survey conducted months after the event provides context on whether these concerns persisted, but it was not a poll of Commodity Classic attendees. Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture surveyed 400 farmers June 15–19, 2026, for its Ag Economy Barometer.
| Survey question | High input costs | Low prices |
|---|---|---|
| Biggest concern | 47% named high input costs. | 23% named low crop and livestock prices. |
| Main factor limiting improvement in the farm’s financial situation | 42% selected high input costs. | 17% selected low output prices. |
The figures reflect respondents’ selected concerns, not the share of farms experiencing a particular loss or the relative size of costs and revenues. Purdue principal investigator Michael Langemeier said farm financial performance remained constrained by input costs amid a broader environment shaped by technology adoption, trade expectations and long-term land-value outlook.
How farmers described responding
The responses reported at the event were individual examples, not a proven ranking of strategies. Their feasibility depends on a farm’s crops, location, cash-flow calendar and risk tolerance.
Buy only what is needed
Bower said his operation was limiting purchases: “Unfortunately, with the economy we’re in, that’s where my operation is. We’re only buying things as we absolutely need them right now, including inputs.” That describes his farm’s choices; it is not general advice to cut inputs that protect yields or soil health.
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Use field information when considering fertilizer
Iowa farmer and American Soybean Association vice president Dave Walton said he was considering lower fertilizer rates where soil tests indicated good soil conditions and was being more judicious. He also said, “We’re at historic highs on fertilizer so the ROI (return on investment) on some of those fertilizer inputs is not there.” His remarks support careful, field-specific decisions—not a universal rate reduction. Commercial-field recommendations should rely on appropriate soil analysis and local agronomic guidance, rather than assuming a consumer test kit is an adequate substitute.
Set attainable marketing targets
Chris O’Connor, general manager of Willamar Cotton and Grain in Texas, described forward contracting and aiming for realistic prices. He said producers who had done so were “doing better — they’re not doing great — they’re doing better than the guys who have tried to shoot for the moon” in hopes of a high price that would erase debt. Forward contracts can affect the timing and certainty of revenue, but the source does not quantify their results or guarantee that a particular price target is achievable.
Consider diversification only where it fits
American Farm Bureau Federation president Zippy Duvall discussed diversification as helpful in his own experience, while noting that location can limit whether it is viable. Walton described expanding a cow-calf operation where he saw profitability. Neither example establishes that diversification is feasible or profitable for every farm.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Assistance and longer-term cost claims
Farm leaders described assistance payments as helpful for cash flow while saying additional help or structural improvements might still be needed. DTN reported Farmer Bridge Assistance applications and attributed application figures to USDA official Richard Fordyce; that reporting is not a guarantee of eligibility or payment. Producers should check current USDA and Farm Service Agency guidance for program terms.
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A separate Farm Policy News roundup relayed Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’s statement that, between 2020 and the prior year, fuel costs had risen 33%, seed 19%, fertilizer 48%, labor 44% and interest expenses 71%. These are figures attributed to Rollins through a secondary account, not independently verified here against an underlying USDA cost series. The roundup also relayed her statement that USDA forecast overall average production costs would decline in 2026 for the first time in five years. That was a forecast at the event, not a confirmed outcome.
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