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Indiana Herbicide Program Costs Through the Lens of Geography

Herbicide program costs across Indiana vary significantly by region, ranging from approximately $49 to over $62 per acre. These differences are driven by geographic variation in weed pressure, herbicide resistance, and environmental conditions. Northern Indiana faces higher resistance pressure, leading to more intensive and costly programs, while central and southern regions balance flexibility, emergence patterns, and operational risk. Understanding these regional dynamics is critical for managing both short-term costs and long-term weed control effectiveness.

Fertilizer Dependence in the U.S. and Brazil: Risks from the Middle East Conflict

With renewed tensions in the Middle East and concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, fertilizer markets are once again under pressure. In this episode of Commercial AgBriefs, Joana Colussi compares fertilizer supply and demand trends in the U.S. and Brazil over the past five years and explains how dependent each country remains on imported nitrogen, phosphate, and potash.

AgCast 217: Why Ducks Are More Valuable Than Crops in the Delta, Lessons from the Delta, Part 8

Rice farming in the Delta reveals how water, wildlife, and profitability intersect. This final episode explores groundwater challenges, duck habitat value, and how farmers are adapting systems for long-term sustainability.

Middle East Conflict Revives Concerns Over Fertilizer Dependence in the U.S. and Brazil

Four years after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, which pushed fertilizer prices to historic highs, the current conflict in the Middle East has once again brought attention to the risks associated with dependence on imported fertilizers for agricultural production. With Iran restricting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route linking the Persian Gulf to global export markets, major supply disruptions have been affecting the United States and Brazil – the world’s two largest country-level fertilizer importers. This article compares fertilizer supply and demand trends over the past five years in both countries, analyzing the scale of their external dependence and the potential implications for agricultural competitiveness.

Broad Strengthening Across the Eastern Corn Belt

Corn and soybean basis strengthened faster than expected across the Eastern Corn Belt, with Ohio and Indiana showing standout gains. Historical trends suggest volatility ahead—making it critical for producers to monitor local basis closely.

Inflation Is Falling… So Why Are Farm Costs Rising?

General inflation has eased from recent highs, but farm input costs remain elevated and in some cases are still rising. Fertilizer, fuel, and other key inputs continue to be driven by supply shocks and global market forces, creating a disconnect from broader inflation trends. That gap is keeping breakeven prices high and adding uncertainty to 2026 planning decisions. See how these trends are shaping cost expectations for the year ahead.

AgCast 216: How Rice Farmers Cut $31/Acre Water Costs, Lessons from the Delta, Part 7

Lessons From the Delta continues — this time from the edge of a 120-acre on-farm reservoir. In Part 7 of the Purdue Commercial AgCast mini-series, Chad Fiechter and Todd Kuethe visit a rice farm in Arkansas to understand how farmers are managing water, labor, and costs in ways that look very different from the Midwest.

Farmer Sentiment Jumps in March 2026 (+11 Points) | Ag Economy Barometer

Farmer sentiment rose sharply in March, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer increasing 11 points as future expectations improved. Yet nearly 70% of producers still say it’s a bad time to invest, citing ongoing pressure from high input costs and weak output prices.

AgCast 215: Farm Sentiment Is Up… So Why Are Farmers Still Worried?

In this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast, Joana Colussi and Michael Langemeier break down the March 2026 Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. Despite rising input costs and global uncertainty tied to geopolitical conflict, farmer sentiment moved higher—driven in part by stronger crop prices and government payments.

Farmer Sentiment Improves Despite Rising Input Cost Concerns

Farmer sentiment improved in March as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose to 127, up from 116 in February. The improvement was driven by a notable increase in producers’ expectations for the future.