LITTLE ROCK — Commodity prices may come in a little higher than expected. That’s according to University of Illinois agricultural economist Nick Paulson.
“On the revenue side, we’re seeing pricing opportunities now for the 2026 crop and looking ahead to 2027 that are higher than what we were looking at in our May release and higher than what we’ve seen since the 2023 crop year,” Paulson said. “Looking at close to a $5 price for the 2026 crop and a $5 price on corn for 2027. Beans at or above $12 per bushel for both 2026 and 2027. Considerably higher than what we’ve had the last three crop years.”
Paulson said all is not good news.
“Higher production costs in 2027, a continued increase in those with the big changes on the increase in cost being in the fertilizer and fuel categories,” he said. “Just based on the higher prices that we’re seeing for those which are attributed mainly to impacts of the Iran conflict that started at the end of February.”
A decline of commodity prices last year led to a major decrease in the number of acres planted in rice this year.
It’s estimated Arkansas has about 901,000 acres of rice planted this year. That’s the first time since the late 1970s that Arkansas has not had a million acres of rice planted.
The state continues to lead the nation in rice acreage and Cross County is among the top counties in Arkansas in rice acreage. Others include Arkansas, Craighead, Jackson and Poinsett counties.
