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Business management expert urges farmers to focus on liquidity and cost control heading into 2027

A production business management expert says preserving liquidity and managing working capital will be critical as producers face another year of tight margins.

Barry Ward with Ohio State University Extension says stronger corn and soybean prices have improved the profit picture for 2026, but…

“We’ve got elevated cost structures that we’re not going to be able to avoid,” he says. “Fertilizer, fuel prices, machinery and equipment, cash rents, they’re all elevated. It’s really going to create some challenges for farmers trying to find some profitability.”

He tells Brownfield producers should also be looking at ways to manage production expenses.

“We’re encouraging producers to do a little bit more precision soil sampling,” he says. “Looking at those acres or those partial fields that may require P&K and lime and some areas of the fields that don’t. We may be able to save ourselves some money there.”

Ward says proactive financial planning could help producers navigate economic uncertainty heading into 2027.

Brownfield interviewed Ward during the 2026 Farm Science Review.

AUDIO: Barry Ward, OSU Extension