Beef and cattle prices have been trading at record levels. Choice boxed beef is up 15% this year through March versus the same period last year,
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When Brian and Mary Heffernan laid eyes on the Sharps Gulch Ranch in Siskiyou County, California, they had no idea how much their lives were about…
Read MoreRates May Help at the Edges, but Margins Decide the Year
The most likely interest rate environment for 2026 offers some relief on operating credit but continued pressure on land, facilities and other capital-intensive investments. I expect
Read MoreCracking the New Economics of Walnut Production
In November, the Walnut Board released its 2025 acreage report. While acreage removal was lower than in 2024, walnut removals continue at a steady pace. With
Read MoreProcessing Tomatoes Enter Contractionary Phase of Cycle
The last few years have been a wild ride in California’s processing tomato industry. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic hurt many agricultural markets by choking off supply
Read MoreThe U.S. Dollar Dilemma
One of the questions I’m asked most often is how much a weaker U.S. dollar will increase exports of major agricultural products. Since the start of
Read MoreMilk Prices Improve, but Volatility Ramps Up
The milk price outlook for 2026 has improved from the beginning of the year. But volatility is likely to ramp up as supply continues to grow
Read More2026 Feed Outlook Has Margin Risk
At Terrain, we’ve been calling 2026 a high-stakes year for cattle feeders. Margins matter. That means having a plan for your feed costs matters, too. Our
Read MoreCrop Margins: The Iran War Effect 2 Weeks In
Since the Iran war began on February 28, projected 2026 operating margins for both corn and soybeans have shifted. The escalation in the Middle East has
Read MoreLong-Term Rates at the Farm Gate Likely to Stay Elevated
The most likely path for U.S. interest rates in 2026 is a slow, deliberate easing of short-term rates, while long-term rates remain relatively sticky and resistant
Read MoreSpecialty Crop Farmers May Miss on ASCF Payments
The Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program is now being rolled out to distribute the $1 billion allocated for specialty crops. Late last year, the
Read MoreEconomy Continues to Press Wine Market
Wine Market Update: A Familiar Story for Wine Sales, With Nuances The post-pandemic slump in wine sales shows no signs yet of abating. U.S. wine sales
Read MoreRenewable Diesel: The Soybean Crush Engine
Renewable Diesel: Boom or Bust? Biofuels, especially renewable diesel, have become a major driver of U.S. soybean oil demand. Renewable diesel stands out for its chemical
Read MoreLower-Carbon Rules, Higher Fuel Prices for California Producers
Under the Hood: California’s Fuel Costs California has the highest fuel costs of any state. Contributing factors include the highest gasoline taxes in the country —
Read MoreCalifornia’s Shifting Fuel Rules Pose Hurdle for Grain Producers
Renewable Diesel Disruption California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) has been successful in changing the state’s fuel landscape. As an emissions trading scheme for transportation fuels,
Read MoreEla Family Farms
Colorado peaches have been a national phenomenon since local settlers first planted the fruit in the 1880s. Here on the Western Slope of the Rockies, peach…
Read MoreA Cautious Start to Herd Rebuilding
A Farm Credit Cattle Customer Survey on Herd Expansion Plans offers a timely look into how U.S. ranchers are thinking about rebuilding their herds after years
Read MorePrime Pizza Years, 2026 Milk Checks and More
Terrain’s senior dairy economist, Ben Laine, joined CoBank’s lead dairy economist, Corey Geiger, for a 2026 market outlook discussion on the Hoard’s Podcast on January 29,
Read More2026 Cash Flow Timing for Farmers
In 2026, crop farmers will face another year of tight margins. In 2026, crop farmers will face another year of tight margins. Cash flows from the
Read MorePlanting Into Headwinds: Early 2026/27 Grain Outlook
Report Snapshot Situation: Farmers are facing another year of tight profit margins as they make their 2026 planting decisions. Terrain’s early projections for corn, soybeans, wheat
Read MoreTrends to Watch in 2026, From the Economist’s View
Now that 2026 has arrived, what might lie ahead for agriculture and farmland values? We caught up with Megan Roberts, an ag economist with Compeer Financial;
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