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Ag supplier says farmers are delaying crop decisions

An ag input supplier says 2026 has been unusually quiet so far.

Matt Oehmichen with Short Lane Ag Supply in Wisconsin tells Brownfield, “There still is a significant amount of growers that haven’t called in to get all of their acres finalized yet.”

Oehmichen says poor commodity prices with corn under five dollars a bushel, soybeans under ten dollars, and milk around sixteen dollars a hundredweight are making farmers pause and re-calculate margins before committing to this year’s crop plan.  “It’s tough out there, and what else makes it a little bit more tough is as we get closer and closer to that spring season, you have parts of the world that already have stuff growing and stuff that is starting to get planted.” Oehmichen says planters have already been rolling in Texas.

Oehmichen says other challenges with late decision-making are getting seed and chemicals to northern farmers now that local road weight limits have slowed deliveries, and the possible fertilizer supply issues caused by military action in Iran.

Oehmichen says he’s had many farmers ask about planting small grains to get by with fewer inputs and possibly improve margins.

AUDIO: Matt Oehmichen from Short Lane Ag Supply discusses his concerns about farmers making late spring planting and input decisions with Brownfield’s Larry Lee.