Making Spring Input Purchases in Times of Volatile Markets

Mar 10, 2026

By Jonathan LaPorte

As the calendar rolls into March each year, most U.S. farmers have usually paid for or secured most of their input needs for the season. But after another year of tightened cash flow and mixed commodity prices, some farms may have held back from early input purchases. Farms in such a scenario may find themselves still needing to secure all or most of those needs heading into spring.

Purchasing inputs in the spring doesn’t mean that all price opportunities are gone. Rather, the opposite is true, especially if markets are showing possible signs of volatility for both price and supply. For farms still needing to secure inputs, the best path forward begins with staying informed about market conditions.

Understanding market conditions

Understanding market conditions is essential when buying farm inputs. The available supply of products and demand, or need, for their use initially set market prices. Prices then move up or down based on different factors that affect supply and demand. Considering factors and their impact can help determine when to buy farm inputs.

Source : msu.edu

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.