Seed Prices Skyrocket as Duopoly Drives Market

Kankakee County farmer Clayton Abbott expects to pay about 3% more for seeds next season, adding to his already rising costs. According to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, seed prices rose 19% between 2020 and 2025, while crop protection costs increased by 30%. Two companies now control over 50% of the American seed market.

Abbott blames the high seed prices on a lack of competition in the industry. 'It just seems like the seed costs are consistently up,' he said. 'There just aren't that many players out there.' The St. Clair County Farm Bureau Vice President Chris Otten also sees the rising input costs as a major challenge for farmers.

Corn seed prices range from $127 per acre in southern Illinois to $132 per acre in northern regions, while soybean seed prices vary between $75-$83 per acre across the state. Brad Zwilling, vice president of data analysis for Illinois Farm Business Farm Management, predicts that these costs will not come down next season.

The average corn seed cost in central Illinois has risen significantly over the years, from $40 per acre in 2005 to $129 per acre by 2023. Pesticide costs also remain high, with projected averages of $98-$117 per acre for corn and $61-$71 per acre for soybeans.