A new report from the National Corn Growers Association found that U.S. corn farmers are paying significantly more for key crop inputs than farmers in Brazil, raising concerns about the global competitiveness of American agriculture.
The report, conducted by Kynetec in partnership with NCGA, compared prices for seed and crop protection products from 2023 through 2025. It found U.S. farmers consistently paid premiums over their Brazilian counterparts, in some cases exceeding double the cost for similar products.
According to the report, U.S. corn seed prices averaged 68% higher than those paid by Brazilian farmers during the three-year period. Fungicides showed some of the largest price differences, with certain comparisons finding U.S. prices more than twice Brazilian levels depending on the crop, product category, active ingredient and year.
The study also found herbicide prices for both corn and soybeans were generally higher in the United States, with many comparisons approaching double the prices paid in Brazil. Corn insecticide prices averaged 87% higher in the United States than in Brazil from 2023 through 2025.
The research is the result of work by NCGA's Inputs Task Force, which was formed to examine the factors contributing to persistently high input costs. The organization said understanding how U.S. input prices compare with those in South America is essential to evaluating the competitive position of American corn growers.
NCGA said rising production costs have continued to strain farm profitability even as commodity prices have weakened. The organization noted that increasing expenses for seed, fertilizer and crop protection products have become a major challenge for producers.
The association also pointed to trade actions affecting agricultural inputs. It said phosphate prices rose after countervailing duties were imposed on imported phosphate following petitions from domestic companies. More recently, duties were imposed on imported 2,4-D supplies, and Bayer filed a petition seeking duties on imported glyphosate.
NCGA warned that additional trade actions affecting agricultural inputs could further increase costs for farmers at a time when many producers are facing another year of financial losses.
The organization is calling for greater pricing transparency from input suppliers and policies aimed at improving the global competitiveness of U.S. agriculture. It also is advocating legislative changes to the countervailing duty process that would require the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission to consider the public interest before imposing duties on agricultural products.
In addition, NCGA said it is pursuing trade policies that address barriers affecting U.S. ethanol exports while seeking reforms that reduce production costs for American farmers.
The full study can be read here.
Source: National Corn Growers Association, "NCGA Report: U.S. Farmers Pay Substantially More for Inputs than Brazilian Counterparts"