Ag Secretary Working with Companies to Lower Input Prices

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins is working directly with ag input companies to address the still-rising costs of farmer inputs amid warnings of fertilizer supply shortages and ongoing disruptions. Rollins told Fox News last weekend that her agency wants significant relief for farmers. Agri-Pulse reported that the White House is wrestling with high prices for diesel and fertilizer, which have risen sharply since the Iran war began. “We’re now talking about this likely not just as a spring problem, but a problem that will likely last into the fall,” a source told Agri-Pulse. Farmdoc, from the University of Illinois, reports an especially significant spike in the on-farm diesel price. “Prices are now working toward the record-high levels seen in March 2022,” said Nick Paulson, a professor of agricultural and consumer economics at the University of Illinois. Among fertilizer prices, Paulson said urea prices have climbed by 39 percent, the highest jump so far. 

U.S. Farmers Planting Less Corn and More Soybeans

Producers intend to plant 95.3 million acres of corn in 2026, down three percent from last year. That’s according to the Prospective Plantings Report released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Soybean growers intend to plant 84.7 million acres in 2026, up four percent from last year. The report is the first official, survey-based estimates of U.S. farmers’ planting intentions. Other key findings include all wheat planted area for 2026 will be 43.8 million acres, down three percent from 2025. Winter wheat planted area, at 32.4 million acres, is down two percent from both the previous estimate and last year. The Grain Stocks Report, also released this week, shows an 11 percent increase in U.S. corn stocks from last year, a ten percent jump in soybean stocks over 2025, and all wheat stored totaled five percent more bushels than last year. 

Poll: Voters Overwhelmingly Support Year-Round E15

Amid rising prices at the pump and volatile global energy markets, an overwhelming majority of registered voters support the expansion of the lower-cost E15 fuel blend and legislation that would make it permanently available nationwide. That’s according to a new poll from Morning Consult, conducted for the Renewable Fuels Association. RFA said the polling results underscore the urgency of securing federal legislation to finally allow sales of E15 year-round. “These results send a clear and unequivocal message to policymakers: American voters want expanded access to lower-cost E15, and they want it now,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “By a margin of eight-to-one, voters support efforts to broaden the availability of the more-affordable, cleaner-burning fuel.” RFA also said hardworking families across the country clearly understand E15 can help them save money while improving U.S. energy security during a time of great uncertainty. 

Egg Prices Ease as Poultry Producers Prepare for Spring Wildfowl Migration

A report from the American Farm Bureau has good news for egg buyers. Egg prices have dropped sharply as production recovers from volatility caused by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza infections. While detections in January and February rose sharply, with over 15 million birds infected, it’s still 56 percent fewer birds infected than at the same time last year. Detections slowed in March, reflecting producer progress in managing the outbreak. USDA is urging farmers to be vigilant with biosecurity as the wildfowl spring migration gets underway. The migration is typically associated with increased disease pressure from HPAI as wild birds come in contact with domestic flocks. While HPAI does continue to circulate in wild bird populations, the impacts are concentrated in poultry, and broader livestock exposure has been more limited than in recent years. Experts say the limited spillover into other livestock sectors points to a more contained and manageable phase of the outbreak. 

USDA Trade Mission Participants will Head to the Philippines

The USDA will lead a trade mission to the Philippines from April 13–16, with the goal of expanding market access for America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers. The mission follows a trade agreement in July 2025, which opened new opportunities for U.S. ag exports to the Philippines. “USDA is committed to getting American farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses better access to strong markets and fair opportunities abroad,” said Michelle Bekkering, USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, who will lead the mission. “This mission will connect U.S. exporters to reliable buyers in one of Asia’s fastest-growing markets.” The Philippines is the tenth-largest market for U.S. agricultural and food products, averaging $3.4 billion in annual exports over the past five years. With a population of 118 million, a rapidly expanding middle class, and strong consumer preference for U.S. products, the Philippines offers enormous growth potential for American exporters. 

Klobuchar: Concerns About USDA Data Quality

Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led ten Democrats in raising concerns to USDA about the reliability of data reports from the agency. They said that a recent Farm Journal survey found 73 percent of ag producers and 78 percent of ag retailers are less confident in USDA reports than in recent years. The Senators’ letter to the agency expressed significant concerns regarding the reliability of USDA reports. “Farmers need reliable data to make critical decisions on what to plant, how to manage risks, and when to market their agricultural products,” the letter said. “Given the importance of reliable data to U.S. farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, it’s critical that USDA maintain the quality and integrity of its data.” The erosion of trust comes after a loss of over 30 percent of the employees at the National Agricultural Statistics Service and almost 25 percent of Farm Service Agency employees.

Wednesday Watch List

Markets

The EIA will kick off April with their weekly Petroleum Status report, due out Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. CDT. At 11 a.m. CDT, USDA will release their final monthly State Stories Conditions Report before weekly Crop Progress reports resume next Monday. Finally, after the close at 2 p.m. CDT, USDA will release their Fats and Oils: Oilseed Crushings and Grain Crushing and Co-Products Production reports, with crush data for February.

Weather

A front continues to produce scattered showers and thunderstorms in the Midwest early Wednesday, but the main story is a system moving into the Plains. Some snow has already started to develop in the Northern Plains, increasing throughout the day. Additional showers and thunderstorms will develop across the Central and Southern Plains Wednesday afternoon and evening, some of which could be severe. Precipitation will spread into the Upper Midwest Wednesday night, which will turn to freezing rain going into Thursday.