Episode Details

The July 28, 2026, special edition of the Closing Market Report features an economic outlook for Midwestern row crop farmers presented by University of Illinois agricultural economist Gary Schnitkey. Schnitkey highlights a sustained cost-price squeeze resulting from commodity prices returning to long-run plateaus while input costs remain elevated following their 2022 peaks. This dynamic is projected to cause negative per-acre returns for the 2026 crop year, though ad hoc government payments continue to buffer overall financial losses. Looking ahead to 2027, Schnitkey warns that the ongoing conflict in Iran will likely exacerbate these financial pressures by driving up critical input costs, particularly for diesel fuel and fertilizer.