By Nathan Gregory
Mississippi farmers are planning fewer acres of most major row crops in 2026, reflecting continued pressure from falling commodity prices and rising production costs, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The USDA’s Prospective Plantings report shows intended acreage declines for corn, rice and cotton in Mississippi, while soybean acres are forecast to increase significantly. Nationally, total acres intended for planting across all crops dipped slightly compared to last year, underscoring what analysts say will be another challenging year for agriculture.
Growers in Mississippi plan to plant about 630,000 acres of corn in 2026, down 31% from the 910,000 acres planted in 2025. Rice acreage is projected at 80,000 acres, a 51% decrease from last year, while cotton acres are expected to fall 9%, from 330,000 acres to about 300,000 acres.
In contrast, soybean acreage is forecasted at 2.3 million acres, a 27% increase over the 1.81 million acres planted last year.
Will Maples, an agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, noted that some markets have shown modest improvement this winter.
“We have seen a decent rally in soybean and cotton prices this winter. Margins are still expected to be tight, but things are slightly better,” Maples said. “Last year, tariff uncertainty weighed on soybean prices and contributed to reduced acreage in Mississippi. This winter, soybean prices have strengthened, making them more competitive relative to other crops.”
Input costs remain a concern, however, especially fertilizer and fuel. Ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have added volatility to energy markets, which can extend to agriculture.
“The main issue is the potential disruption through the Strait of Hormuz, which is a key shipping route for fertilizer and energy products coming out of the Middle East,” Maples said. “The U.S. doesn’t rely heavily on those countries for fertilizer imports, but they are major suppliers to the rest of the world, so disruptions there can tighten global supplies and push prices higher.”
Source : msstate.edu