Grassley Seeks Trump's Help in Tackling Crop Input Price Gaps
Iowa's senior senator, Chuck Grassley, has asked President Trump to investigate and address the disparity in prices for crop inputs between US farmers and their Brazilian counterparts.
A recent study by the National Corn Growers Association found that U.S. corn seed prices averaged 68% higher than Brazil's, while some fungicides cost more than double what Brazilian farmers paid.
The study compared data from 2023 to 2025 and adjusted for taxes, currency swings, and purchasing power, showing that exchange rates alone do not explain the price difference.
NCGA Chief Economist Krista Swanson said the timing of input purchases is critical, as farmers lock in seed and crop protection purchases months before they know what the crop or market will deliver.