Missouri Farm Income Set to Drop in 2026

By Blake Jackson

Missouri’s agricultural sector is expected to face financial pressure in the coming year, as the Spring 2026 Farm Income Outlook projects a decline in net farm income.

The report, released by the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF) at the University of Missouri, estimates statewide net farm income will fall to $4.84 billion in 2026, representing a 6% drop compared to 2025.

This decrease is notably larger than the projected 1.5% decline in overall U.S. net farm income for the same period, as forecast by the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI-MU).

A key factor behind Missouri’s downturn is a significant reduction in livestock receipts, which are expected to fall 11% to $7.38 billion. Much of this decline is attributed to an anticipated $803 million drop in egg receipts, driven by a projected 70% decrease in egg prices.

Crop receipts are also expected to edge lower, declining 2% to $6.47 billion. This is partly due to a reduction of 248,000 acres in planted crop area across the state, resulting in lower overall production. Meanwhile, total production expenses are forecast to remain relatively stable at $12.24 billion.

While costs for feed and seed may decline, increases in expenses for purchased livestock, fertilizer, fuel, and oil are expected to offset those savings. Some relief may come from lower interest expenses and reduced rental costs.

Looking ahead to 2027, the report predicts a sharper decline in Missouri’s net farm income, falling 16% to $4.07 billion. This drop is largely linked to reduced government payments, along with modest declines in both crop and livestock receipts and slightly higher production costs.

“As some key production costs are rising faster than commodity prices, producers are expected to contain expenses by switching their production mix – whenever possible – as well as their production practices to reduce input use,” said Alejandro Plastina, director of RaFF and Frank Miller Professor of agricultural economics.

“Crop producers should buckle up for another year of tough financial decisions while planning the next two to three crop years, and livestock producers should start, if they haven’t already, planning for smaller margins in the coming years.”

To help producers better understand these trends, the report’s authors will host a webinar on May 5 at 12 p.m. CDT, offering insights into income projections, cost pressures, and strategies for navigating the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

Click here, to register for the event.

Photo Credit: istock-alenamozhjer