Higher Input Prices Erode U.S. Corn Growers' Productivity Advantage

U.S. corn growers have long been considered among the most productive and efficient in the world, producing roughly twice as much corn per acre as their Brazilian counterparts.

However, this productivity advantage has not translated into stronger returns for U.S. growers due to increasing input costs, according to a recent study by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).

The NCGA found that while U.S. growers use fewer inputs per unit of cropland than Brazilian growers, they often pay higher prices for comparable products.

Average corn seed prices paid by U.S. growers were 68% higher than those paid by Brazilian growers from 2023-2025, with insecticide prices averaging 87% higher.