Farmers navigate challenging markets ahead of planting season

Nebraska farmer finds efficiency investing in new technology

Janelle Atyeo
Mar 10, 2026
Mar 10, 2026

anhydrous tanks — Ag economists expect crop input costs to climb higher in 2026, although farmers’ willingness to pay higher prices for inputs with lower crop markets could be tested. Fertilizer prices look to be higher, although some costs such as interest expenses look to be lower.
IFT photo by Benjamin Herrold

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Clark McPheeters is preparing to plant his 16th crop knowing that the grain he sells at harvest time likely won’t amount to a big profit, but he counts himself lucky to have started farming when corn prices were on the upswing in 2011.

kAm“xE H@F=5 36 G6CJ 492==6?8:?8 :7 E9:D H6C6 J62C @?6[” D2:5 E96 7:7E9 86?6C2E:@? 72C>6C]k^Am

kAm|4!966E6CD 2EE6?565 E96 u2C>6C a u2C>6C 4@?76C6?46 AFE @? 3J u2C>6CD qFD:?6DD }6EH@C< Wuq}X :? ~>292 u63] ad[ H96C6 :?AFE 4@DED 2?5 >2C<6E:?8 DEC2E68:6D H6C6 2 3:8 A2CE @7 E96 4@?G6CD2E:@?] q6EH66? D6DD:@?D[ 96 5:D4FDD65 D@>6 @7 E96 H2JD 9:D 72>:=J 562=D H:E9 E:89E >2C8:?D – 7C@> >2<:?8 5@ H:E9 6BF:A>6?E E96J 92G6 E@ :?G6DE:?8 :? ?6H E649?@=@8J E92E 3@@DED 677:4:6?4J]k^Am

kAmr@C? :D AC@;64E65 E@ 36 23@FE `_ 46?ED =@H6C E92? =2DE J62C[ 4@>:?8 :? 2C@F?5 Sc]e_ 7@C DAC:?8]k^Am

WEB-Farmer-2-Farmer-(64).gif — Clark McPheeters, second from left, speaks on a panel about agoanomic volatility during Farmers Business Network's Farmer 2 Farmer event in Omaha. He shared the stage with Midwest Messenger contributor and Tekamaha farmer Quentin Connealy, second from right.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

kAm“%96 5:77:4F=EJ 7@C AC@5F46CD :D E92E AC:46 E92E E96J’C6 D66:?8[ :E :D?’E 24EF2==J AC@7:E23=6 7@C >@DE @7 E96>[” D2:5 y@D9 |4r=FC6[ uq}’D 9625 @7 >2C<6E 25G:D@CJ 2?5 3C@<6C286]k^Am

kAm$@J362?D C2==:65 23@FE g_ 46?ED :? u63CF2CJ 27E6C !C6D:56?E %CF>A DF886DE65 E92E r9:?2 >2J H2?E E@ 3FJ >@C6 &]$] 362?D] %96 AC@;64E65 AC:46 7@C 362?D H2D S``]_d 2E E96 6?5 @7 u63CF2CJ] %92E 4@F=5 AC@>AE 72C>6CD E@ A=2?E >@C6 24C6D E@ D@J362?D[ |4r=FC6 D2:5[ 3FE H:E9 $@FE9 p>6C:42? D@J362?D AC:465 =@H6C 2?5 &]$] E2C:77D DE:== 2E A=2J[ E96 @FE4@>6 :D F?46CE2:?]k^Am

kAm|4!966E6CD 72C>D H:E9 9:D 525 2?5 3C@E96C 36EH66? }@CE9 !=2EE6 2?5 {6I:?8E@?[ }63C2D<2] %96J 8C@H H9:E6 2?5 J6==@H 7@@5\8C256 4@C?[ D@J362?D 2?5 2=72=72]k^Am

kAmtBF:A>6?E 4@DED 2C6 2 4@?DE2?E 4@?46C?] %96 72>:=J EJA:42==J EC256D E96:C 4@>3:?6 :? 6G6CJ J62C] }@H E96J’C6 DEC6E49:?8 :E :?E@ 2 E9:C5 J62C @7 H@C<[ H9:49 42FD6D |4!966E6CD D@>6 4@?46C?]k^Am

kAm“xE 2== 86ED @=56C 2?5 9:896C 9@FCD[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

Sensors in field — Monitoring soil moisture with sensor probes enables growers to make effective irrigation decisions.
Lynn Grooms

kAmu2C>:?8 =2?5 E92E’D `__T :CC:82E65[ H2E6C :D 2 DE2?52C5 6IA6?D6 7@C E96 |4!966E6CD] x? 2? 677@CE E@ 2AA=J E96 AC64:D6 2>@F?E @7 H2E6C E96:C 4C@AD ?665[ E96J’C6 =@@<:?8 E@ 86E 2 36EE6C C625 @? D@:= >@:DEFC6 E9C@F89 E96 D62D@?] $@:= >@:DEFC6 AC@36D E96J EJA:42==J :?DE2== :? E96 7:6=5 92G6 366? DA@EEJ 5F6 E@ :?E6C76C6?46 7C@> 4=@F5D 2?5 H:=57:C6 D>@<6] %9:D J62C[ E96J’== 36 FD:?8 D2E6==:E6 >:4C@H2G6 E649?@=@8J E@ >62DFC6 D@:= >@:DEFC6]k^Am

kAm|4!966E6CD 4@?D:56CD E96 C6EFC? @? E96 :?G6DE>6?E H96? :>A=6>6?E:?8 ?6H E649?@=@8:6D]k^Am

kAm“xE’D ?@E 2 D@=FE:@? =@@<:?8 7@C 2 AC@3=6>[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmw6 H2?ED 9:D :?G6DE>6?E E@ D2G6 E96> >@?6J :? E96 =@?8 CF?] $F49 H2D E96 42D6 H96? 96 EC2565 :? 2 DAC2J6C E9:D J62C 2?5 @AE65 7@C 2 ?6H @?6 H:E9 $66 U2>Aj $AC2J E649?@=@8J] xE FD6D 42>6C2D >@F?E65 @? E96 EC24E@C’D 3@@> E@ DA@E H665 :? E96 7:6=5 2?5 2AA=:6D 96C3:4:56 @?=J H96C6 E96J 8C@H]k^Am

kAm%96J 2=D@ K6C@ :? @? E96 36DE DA@ED E@ 255 76CE:=:EJ E@ E96 7:6=5] x?DE625 @7 3FJ:?8 4@>>6C4:2= 76CE:=:K6C[ E96 |4!966E6CD DAC625 >2?FC6 7C@> =@42= =:G6DE@4< @A6C2E:@?D] %96J 8C:5 D2>A=6 E96:C 7:6=5D 2?5 2AA=J :E H96C6 ?FEC:6?ED 2C6 >@DE =24<:?8] %96 36?67:ED 2C6 :? >@C6 E92? ;FDE E96 ?FEC:6?ED]k^Am

kAm“%96C6’D 2 =@E @7 G2=F6 :? 2 E@? @7 >2?FC6 G6CDFD H92E 2 =23 E6DE D9@HD[” |4!966E6CD D2:5]k^Am

People are also reading…

Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Mitchell Tech students present research at Commodity Classic
Family closes generation gap
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
Livestock sector struggles to fill labor need
C-B Charolais 40th Annual Production Sale
Agriculture will play a major role in upcoming corner crossing discussions
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
McCumber Angus Ranch Production Sale
From the field to the heart: one man's mission to change how farmers talk about mental health
Hemingford FFA grows leaders for tomorrow
New policies affect spread of alternative energy sites

kAmw6 =:<6D E92E >2?FC6 255D @C82?:4 >2EE6C E@ E96:C D2?5J D@:=D[ <66A:?8 E96 D@:= 3:@=@8J 24E:G6 2?5 92AAJ]k^Am

kAmu6CE:=:K6C DFAA=:6D 4@F=5 36 5:DCFAE65 3J E96 H2C :? xC2?] u:89E:?8 :? 62C=J |2C49 4=@D65 E96 $EC2:E @7 w@C>FK[ 2 <6J D9:AA:?8 492??6= 7@C D6G6C2= 4@F?EC:6D E92E DFAA=J 7665DE@4< 7@C >2<:?8 76CE:=:K6C] w2=7 @7 8=@32= FC62 2?5 DF=7FC 6IA@CED 4@>6 E9@F89 E96 DEC2:89E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 u6CE:=:K6C x?DE:EFE6[ 2D H6== a_T @7 ?2EFC2= 82D[ H9:49 :D FD65 E@ >2<6 ?:EC@86? 76CE:=:K6CD] $2F5: pC23:2 :D E96 E@A &]$] DFAA=:6C 7@C A9@DA92E6D[ 2?5 H9:=6 2>>@?:2 7@C &]$] FD6 :D?’E EJA:42==J D@FC465 7C@> E92E C68:@?[ E96 u6CE:=:K6C x?DE:EFE6 C6A@CE65 E92E E96 D9:AA:?8 5:DCFAE:@? AFED AC6DDFC6 @? 8=@32= DFAA=:6D]k^Am

WEB-Farmer-2-Farmer-(15).gif — Rob McClinton of Fuhua, a China-based chemical manufacturer, talks about changes in the fertilizer industry as products come off patent during the Farmer 2 Farmer event in Omaha Feb. 25.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

kAm~?6 2C62 H96C6 72C>6CD 4@F=5 D2G6 D@>6 >@?6J :? E96 4@>:?8 J62C :D 4C@A :?DFC2?46] %96 ~?6 q:8 q62FE:7F= q:== A2DD65 E92E DF>>6C :?4C62D65 DF3D:5:6D 7@C D@>6 DFAA=6>6?E2= 4@G6C286] (92E FD65 E@ 36 DF3D:5:K65 2E edT :?4C62D65 E@ 2? g_T DF3D:5J] r@FA=65 H:E9 =@H6C G@=2E:=:EJ 2?5 =@H6C AC:46D[ 72C>6CD H:== A2J 23@FE H92E E96J 925 366?[ |4r=FC6 D2:5] %2<:?8 25G2?E286 @7 E92E 255:E:@?2= G2=F6 :D =:<6=J E@ 36 A2CE @7 2 8@@5 C:D< >2?286>6?E D@=FE:@? 7@C E96 4@>:?8 J62C[ 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmu2C>6CD 4@F=5 2=D@ D66 D@>6 C6=:67 :? E96 ?62C 7FEFC6 @? E96 AC:46 E28 7@C 4C@A AC@E64E:@? 496>:42=D DF49 2D 96C3:4:56D 2?5 :?D64E:4:56D] $6G6C2= AC@5F4ED 92G6 A2E6?ED E92E 2C6 23@FE E@ 6IA:C6] (96? E92E 92AA6?D[ >2?F724EFC:?8 4@>A2?:6D C246 E@ AC@5F46 E96 496>:42=D 2E D42=6]k^Am

kAm“u2C>6CD 36?67:E H96? 4@>A2?:6D 4@>A6E6 7@C E96:C 3FD:?6DD[” D2:5 #@3 |4r=:?E@? @7 uF9F2[ 2 r9:?2\32D65 496>:42= >2?F724EFC6C[ H9@ 82G6 2 AC6D6?E2E:@? 2E E96 u2C>6C a u2C>6C 6G6?E]k^Am

kAm%96 E:>:?8 :D 8@@5 H:E9 E2C:77D DE:== 2E A=2J] u2C>6CD H6C6 D9:6=565 7C@> E2C:77D AFE @? AC@5F4ED 7C@> @G6CD62D =2DE J62C 3642FD6 >2?J 4@>A2?:6D 925 DE@4<A:=65 28 496>:42=D[ |4r=:?E@? D2:5[ 3FE ?@H E96J’C6 C2:D:?8 AC:46D E@ 244@F?E 7@C E2C:77D]k^Am

kAmp=@?8 H:E9 E96 C6=62D6 @7 A2E6?ED[ E96C6’D 366? 2 D92<6\FA @7 496>:42= >2?F724EFC6CD[ A@:?E65 @FE uq}’D y@9? pAA6=] r@CE6G2 2??@F?465 =2DE 72== :E H:== DA=:E :ED D665 3FD:?6DD 2?5 :ED 4C@A AC@E64E:@? 5:G:D:@?] u|r[ 2?@E96C 28 496>:42= >2?F724EFC6C[ :D 7@C D2=6] qp$u 2?5 q2J6C 2C6 6249 C6DECF4EFC:?8]k^Am

kAm|4!966E6CD D66D EH@ >2:? H2JD E@ :>AC@G6 AC@7:E23:=:EJ @? E96 72C> – C65F46 E96 4@DE @7 :?AFED 2?5 7:?5 ?6H A=246D E@ >2C<6E 72C> AC@5F4ED] w6’5 =:<6 E@ D66 >@C6 677@CE AFE :?E@ FD:?8 4@C?\32D65 t`d 6E92?@= 3=6?5D J62C\C@F?5 2?5 EFC?:?8 >@C6 D@J362?D :?E@ 3:@5:6D6= 2?5 DFDE2:?23=6 2G:2E:@? 7F6=]k^Am

kAm“(6 ?665 E@ 5@ 36EE6C[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

Farmer 2 Farmer (32).JPG — Jackson Takach, chief economist for Farmer Mac, discusses market conditions to a crowd at Farmers Business Network’s Farmer 2 Farmer even in Omaha Feb. 25.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

kAmq6EE6C 52JD >2J 36 4@>:?8[ 3FE 492?86 :? E96 >2C<6E 4@>6D D=@H=J] y24<D@? %2<249[ 49:67 64@?@>:DE 7@C u2C>6C |24[ ?@E65 E92E E96 &]$] D@J362? 4CFD9 42A24:EJ EC:A=65 :? C646?E J62CD[ 255:?8 G2=F6 E@ 2 AC@5F4E E92E FD65 E@ 36 D9:AA65 E@ @E96C 4@F?EC:6D 7@C AC@46DD:?8]k^Am

kAm“xE E2<6D E:>6 2?5 2 =@E @7 8@G6C?>6?E DFAA@CE[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmv@G6C?>6?E A2J>6?ED H:== 36 3@=DE6C:?8 E96 72C> 64@?@>J :? E96 >62?E:>6] t?C@==>6?E @A6?65 u63] ab 7@C 3C:586 A2J>6?ED E92E H6C6 2FE9@C:K65 2D A2CE @7 E96 ~?6 q:8 q62FE:7F= q:==] u2C>6CD 92G6 E9C@F89 pAC:= `f E@ 2AA=J]k^Am

kAm$276EJ ?6E A2J>6?ED 7@C> E96 !C:46 {@DD r@G6C286 AC@8C2> H:== 4@>6 :? ~4E@36C[ 2D FDF2=] %2<249 D2:5 E9@D6 4964<D 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 36 3:886C E9:D J62C]k^Am

kAm“xE’D 3:8 D=@8 @7 42D9 E@ 96=A 3C:586 D@>6 @7 E96 D=F88:D9?6DD :? 4@>>@5:EJ AC:46D[” 96 D2:5] “x7 J@F 3=6?5 E9:D :?[ :E 2=>@DE =@@<D =:<6 2 C64@C5 J62CD 7@C AC@7:ED]”k^Am

k9C ^m

kAmk6>mt5:E@CVD ?@E6i p? 62C=:6C G6CD:@? @7 E9:D DE@CJ :?4@CC64E=J DE2E65 E96 2>@F?E @7 E96 D276EJ ?6E A2J>6?ED 72C>6CD H:== C646:G6] %96 AC:46 C676CC65 E@ E96 AC@;64E65 A2J>6?E C2E6 A6C 32D6 24C6 C2E96C E92? A6C 3FD96=] (6 C68C6E 2?J 4@?7FD:@? E9:D >2J 92G6 42FD65] k^6>mk^Am

Raised in small town South Dakota, Janelle is enjoying her time as editor of Tri-State Neighbor and Midwest Messenger while raising kids, chickens and no till vegetables in central Sioux Falls. Reach her at janelle.atyeo@lee.net.