Study finds U.S. farmers pay higher input prices than Brazil

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. — U.S. farmers often pay more than Brazilian competitors for key seed and crop production inputs, with the largest gaps occurring in corn seed, fungicides, and herbicides, according to a new report.The study was conducted by Kynetec in partnership with the National Corn Growers Association.The findings include:CornAcross all corn seed comparisons, U.S. prices were considerably higher, averaging a 68% premium over Brazil from 2023 to 2025.The gap remained substantial even against Brazil’s higher-cost summer corn, with U.S. prices 63% higher than Brazilian summer corn and 74% higher than winter corn.Seed traits and production systems differ between countries, but a notable gap remains even when comparing widely used trait packages.Manufacturer-level comparisons show the difference is not limited to a single company or product line; major brands show sizable U.S. price premiums, as well.SoybeansOverall, soybean seed prices were higher in the United States, with a 24% pre