NCGA’s July 8 report said U.S. growers paid 68% more for corn seed and 24% more for soybean seed than Brazilian farmers on average from 2023 to 2025.
Kynetec data also showed U.S. herbicide and fungicide prices were often double Brazil’s, while corn insecticide prices averaged 87% higher, deepening a four-year squeeze on farm margins.
Matt Frostic, an NCGA board officer and Michigan farmer, said many family farms are in survival mode, unable to reinvest or bring the next generation back into the business.
The group used the findings to press for more competition and price transparency in agricultural inputs, while the seed industry argued U.S. and Brazilian markets, regulations and technologies are fundamentally different.
The report lands as fertilizer costs have also been pressured by disrupted urea shipments and as Bayer seeks duties on imported glyphosate, moves corn growers say could further raise expenses.