INDIANA – Facing their third consecutive year of net negative returns, U.S. corn growers are grappling with a severe economic crisis. In response, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has launched a new task force to address near-record production costs that are squeezing farmer profitability.
The Economic Squeeze
According to NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr., “on-farm economics are not working.” The problem is a significant gap between low corn prices and persistently high input costs. While corn prices have plummeted by over 50% in the last three years, average production costs have fallen by only 3% from their 2022 peak.
This imbalance means that even with higher yields, farmers struggle to offset the high prices of essential inputs, such as fertilizer and seed. With 2026 projected to be a fourth year of negative returns, the situation is becoming unsustainable for many growers.
NCGA’s Response
The new input task force, led by Michigan corn farmer and NCGA incoming first vice president Matt Frostic, is comprised of farmers and staff from both national and state corn organizations. Its goal is to identify solutions that will bring production costs more in line with current market realities.
This initiative is the latest in a series of actions by the NCGA to advocate for its members. The organization recently sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture highlighting the ongoing financial challenges. In recent years, the NCGA has also actively opposed tariffs on imported fertilizer, which contributed to record-high costs for growers.
