Farmdoc Sees Glimmer of Hope for Row Crop Farms in 2027

The University of Illinois farmdoc team has published its crop budget estimates for 2027, suggesting that stronger commodity prices could put row crop farm budgets back in the black this year and next.

Following three years of negative margins, the team revised its 2026 projections to reflect increased corn and soybean prices. The average corn price is now estimated at $4.95 per bushel, up from $4.50, while the average soybean price is projected at $12.20 per bushel, up from $11.50.

This revision has caused the crop return estimate to go from negative to positive, with central Illinois cash rented farmland expected to see an $88 per acre return for 2026.

For 2027, farmdoc estimates average prices of $5 per bushel for corn and $12 per soybeans, putting the average return at $61 per acre. However, input costs, especially fertilizer, remain historically high and are cutting into farmers' profits.