US farmers pay more for seeds and crop protection products than Brazilian growers

US corn and soybean farmers are paying significantly more for seeds and crop protection products than their competitors in Brazil, even though both countries sell their crops into the same global commodity market. These findings come from a study conducted by research firm Kynetec, which analyzed agricultural input prices between 2023 and 2025.

According to the study, US corn growers paid an average of 68% more for seed than Brazilian farmers. They also faced substantially higher costs for fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides. Meanwhile, Brazilian growers have broader access to lower-cost generic products and single-active-ingredient formulations, while the US market is dominated by more expensive premium products.

Fungicide costs in the United States are, in some cases, more than twice as high as in Brazil. Even when comparing products with the same active ingredients, US farmers still pay significantly more. For example, US growers paid about 35% more for glyphosate in 2025 than their Brazilian counterparts.

The gap is also evident in other input categories. Between 2023 and 2025, US corn farmers spent 87% more on insecticides than Brazilian growers, while soybean producers paid 31% more. Soybean seed prices were also higher in the United States, averaging 24% above Brazilian levels, even though Brazilian varieties often offer broader resistance to herbicides and insect pests.

Researchers note that the cost differences are influenced not only by input prices but also by regulatory policies, taxation, logistics, and farm size. In addition, Brazil continues to improve its transport and export infrastructure, strengthening its competitiveness in global grain and oilseed markets.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has called on US authorities to improve pricing transparency, expand access to generic crop protection products, and increase competition in the agricultural input market. Meanwhile, the US Federal Trade Commission is investigating possible anti-competitive practices in the fertilizer industry, and the US Department of Agriculture has appointed an economist dedicated to monitoring agricultural input prices.