Several factors influencing the US soybean market in 2026

impressive reported yields, Ben Brown, an agricultural economist at the University of Missouri, notes significant regional variations in production. This discrepancy led to inflated farmer expectations, which, in turn, resulted in disappointment. Speaking about the outlook for the 2026 season, Brown identified two main factors determining soybean prospects: weather and international trade. One positive factor for soybeans is the increasing supply of biofuels. Drought’s Impact on Soybeans “Does anyone want to talk about soybean yields? No, really, no one, right? Missouri is struggling right now,” Brown told a group of farmers at a crop management conference hosted by the University of Missouri in December. Late-season drought conditions affected much of the state, resulting in smaller bean sizes and lower yields. According to Zach Lisor, a climatologist at the University of Missouri, August in Missouri was the second-driest on record since 1909. Looking ahead to 2026, Brown and ...