Planning for the future can be a very frustrating process, especially in times of market volatility. Planning typically pays high dividends. For most farm and ranch managers, developing realistic commodity price expectations is one of the most difficult and complex tasks of the planning process.
To make the planning process easier, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension has released its 2026 short- and long-term agricultural planning price projections for North Dakota.
“Estimating short-term planning crop prices is more important than ever,” said Ron Haugen, NDSU Extension farm economist. “Price projections should be used as a guide in setting expectations for the 2026 production.”
These planning prices can be used for preparing annual enterprise budgets and annual whole-farm cash flow projections.
“Cash flow projections are very critical with today’s tight margins,” Haugen added.
Livestock price projections are hitting new highs, but crop price projections are lower than a year ago.
The publication shows 2026 price projections for crops and livestock produced in the state as well as price estimates for future years. Price projections are given for the major crop commodities, including wheat, durum, oats, feed barley, malting barley, oil sunflowers, non-oil sunflowers, corn, soybeans, canola, flaxseed, winter wheat, dry beans, dry peas, lentils, alfalfa hay and mixed hay.
Price projections for livestock and livestock products include beef steers and heifers at various weights, cull cows, slaughter steers, slaughter hogs, slaughter ewes, slaughter lambs, feeder lambs and milk. The publication also provides historical prices as a reference.
Haugen cautions against using short-term prices for planning capital purchases or expansion alternatives that would extend beyond the next production year.
The “Plotting a Course 2026” publication is available online at ndsu.ag/plotacourse26 or by contacting an NDSU Extension county office. — NDSU Extension
