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Crops

How U.S. and Brazilian Corn Production Costs Compare

U.S. corn production costs remain structurally higher than Brazil’s, driven largely by higher land expenses. Meanwhile, Brazil’s second-crop system allows producers to spread fixed costs across soybeans and corn, reinforcing its competitive position in global markets. Using standardized economic data from the agribenchmark network, we compare corn production costs and returns in Iowa and Mato Grosso from 2020 to 2024.

Cover Crop Net Returns and Soil Health Improvements

Cover crops offer measurable soil health benefits, but their financial impact varies depending on yield performance and input cost savings. This article uses scenario analysis to examine how producers can evaluate conservation practices alongside profitability and other farm goals.

Corn & Soybean Basis Trends Heading Into June

Corn and soybean basis strengthened across much of the Eastern Corn Belt, especially in Ohio and Indiana. Josh Strine breaks down the latest basis trends, regional differences, Ohio River demand, and what farmers should watch heading into June grain markets.

Corn & Soybean Grain Markets: Basis Is Shifting Across Cash Markets

Corn and soybean basis strengthened across the Eastern Corn Belt in April, with gains exceeding historical trends in several regions. However, persistent regional differences remain, particularly between stronger Ohio basis levels and weaker Iowa conditions. These shifts—especially along the Ohio River—highlight changing cash market signals heading into May.

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.

Brazil Heads for a Record Soybean Harvest as Farm Margins Approach Breakeven

Brazil is projected to produce a record 6.5 billion bushels of soybeans in the 2025-26 crop season, but farm margins are expected to fall to their lowest level in nearly two decades. Lower soybean prices, elevated production costs, and weak port premiums are compressing profitability for Brazilian farmers, raising questions about whether the country’s rapid soybean acreage expansion can continue.

Indiana and Ohio Set the Benchmark for Soybean and Corn Basis, Respectively

Corn basis across the Eastern Corn Belt has remained relatively stable compared to last month, but regional differences remain significant. Ohio currently sets the benchmark for corn basis, with positive levels in parts of the state, while Iowa continues to post the weakest levels. Soybean basis has been more volatile, with strengthening through late February followed by recent declines across most districts. Indiana continues to lead the region with the strongest soybean basis levels. While historical patterns suggest basis should strengthen into spring, recent week-to-week volatility highlights the importance of monitoring local markets closely. Producers can track conditions using Purdue’s Crop Basis Tool.

U.S. and Brazil Soybean Competitiveness: Farm-Level Costs and Returns

This article compares farm-level soybean costs and profitability in Iowa and Mato Grosso from 2020–2024. Brazilian farms face higher direct input costs, while U.S. farms carry heavier land-related overhead. Structural cost differences help explain Brazil’s sustained profitability and ongoing competitiveness in global soybean markets.

Corn Basis is Stable Across the Eastern Corn Belt, but Soybean Basis Varies

Corn basis remains steady across much of the Eastern Corn Belt as markets transition to May futures contracts, with particularly strong local basis levels in central Ohio and northern Indiana. Meanwhile, soybean basis shows significantly more volatility, with widening spreads across districts and notable weakness in Iowa. Ethanol plants continue to offer firm premiums relative to local delivery points, while soybean crush plant basis has softened in several states. Producers can use the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture’s Crop Basis Tool to compare local ethanol and crush plant basis levels and evaluate current pricing opportunities against historical averages.

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