Statewide Iowa (RI) — Many Iowa farmers can expect to pay slightly more to plant, maintain and harvest a crop in the year ahead, according to a new report from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Ann Johanns, an ag decision maker program specialist with the extension, says producers will face tight margins in the 2026 growing season.
The extension’s report, called Estimated Costs of Crop Production in Iowa 2026, takes into account that average market prices for corn and soybeans are projected to stay below production costs, making for a challenging situation.
On the plus side, Johanns says the projected land costs came down slightly.
Johanns says opportunities for profit are expected to be limited this coming year, underscoring the importance of careful cost tracking and farm-specific planning, which is where the extension can help farmers to plan.
Johanns says the report’s figures should be used as planning benchmarks, not exact estimates for individual farms, adding, farm-level cost data is vital information for producers to track.
Click to view the full estimate of Iowa crop production costs in 2026.
KIWA Staff Photo
