Agricultural Economics, Department of
Cornhusker Economics
Turning Cost Control into Cash Flow: What a 5% Cut Can Mean for Your 2026 Budget
Date of this Version
11-19-2025
Document Type
Newsletter Issue
Citation
Cornhusker Economics (November 19, 2025)
Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Abstract
Each year, the numbers tell a story. The 2024 data from Nebraska Farm Business, Inc. show a familiar one: tight margins, rising interest costs, and shrinking working capital. Even though fertilizer prices dropped nearly $45 per acre over 2023 for irrigated corn, other costs and weaker revenue kept the average operation under pressure. When prices and yields are out of our control, the best opportunity for 2026 is to focus on what we can manage—costs.
It’s easy to think 5% doesn’t move the needle much. But across a full crop mix, it can make a big difference in both profitability and cash flow.
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