U.S. and Brazilian farmers compete directly in global markets. Input-level discrepancies underscore the comparative advantage U.S. farms maintain in fertilizer and chemical costs, particularly for soybeans. However, the seed cost disadvantage in 2024 for U.S. soybean producers warrants closer scrutiny. Understanding the drivers behind this gap, like government policy or commercial strategy, and identifying opportunities to reduce it, will be critical for maintaining U.S. competitiveness.
