2021 Outlook
go.ncsu.edu/readext?762314
2021 commodity prices look promising for corn, wheat, and soybeans. Corn is around the $5 per bushel mark – not to say it may be lower by harvest, but still a better price than the last two years. Soybeans are over $13 per bushel when at this time two years ago we were looking at $9 per bushel. Wheat has been all over the board and is now $6 per bushel when the last two years we have been between $4 and $5 per bushel. With tobacco, most growers had a good year and better than the last two years. If China comes back into the market that could help on price. Tobacco acres will probably be the same – some may get a few more contract acres, some will not according to who you grow for. The freeze on H2A workers’ labor wages will help with input costs. The labor costs are the number one cost for tobacco growers. Inputs such as gas and diesel have not risen at least for a year. 2021 will be a better year and may be the best year in a long time!