Markets with Mike Meisenzahl
What can you expect in the market for 2026? Mike Meisenzahl, representing Clover Ag Risk Management in Honeoye Falls, NY, presented a snapshot of the ag markets and recent farm-related legislation at the New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association Winter Expo.
“Every analyst is probably saying that we were going to cut the corn yield expectation,” Meisenzahl said.
Many look at the tough growing season of 2025 as one reason to anticipate low yield. But he believes that the wet spring and early cold temperatures won’t be enough to reduce corn yield. Instead, he pointed out that the 98.7 million planted acres planted nationwide in the U.S. – the highest number of acres planted to corn in almost 90 years – should indicate that the 2025 yield figures should show an increase over the yield in 2024.
Meisenzahl anticipates a similar number of planted acres for 2026. If that pans out, “you’ll see low $4 futures,” he said. “Maybe we’ll have a growing season problem. We need to increase demand or a supply problem to get the market nervous about running out of corn.”
As for soybeans, Meisenzahl said that 40 to 50 bushel per acre soybeans in New York and 60 or more in the Midwest means “we should see an uptick in exports if China follows through. We’ll be up in planted acres this year.”
He wants farmers to shift their attention to the upcoming growing season.
“Have both crops on your calendar between now and the end of July,” Meisenzahl said. “There’s historically good prices but we may be a little gun shy because of planting dates.”
He also discussed price loss coverage and the base price set in the Farm Bill. “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will pay the higher of the two,” Meisenzahl said. Farmers are allowed to sign up after harvest. The OBBBA also addresses base acres for farms that have none. For calendar year 2026, payments will be made in June.
Agriculture Risk Coverage, the federal crop insurance program, has a few changes courtesy of the OBBBA which should raise the floor on what’s covered.
“A lot of people, when they’re done harvesting, want to put it all away for a few weeks,” Meisenzahl said.
Instead, he wants farmers to plan more. It’s a good time to “regroup and get everything together. Surround yourself with people who can help you,” he concluded.
