American Farm Export Prices Just Posted Their Biggest Monthly Gain Since 2022. The Import Bill Is the Warning Light
BLS says agricultural export prices rose 2.6% in September on soybeans, corn and wheat, and prices for exports to China jumped 2.7%. But import prices are up 8.1% in a year. In our view, it is a win for farm country and a reason to unleash more American energy.
By Clara Hughes
ALTAS WORLD NEWS OPINION | By Clara Hughes, Chief Opinion Editor | October 17, 2026 | 6-min read Farm country has heard plenty of bad news in recent years: weak crop prices, lost markets and trade fights that seemed to land on the people who grow our food. On Friday, the government delivered better news. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that prices for U.S. agricultural exports rose 2.6% in September, the largest monthly rise since November 2022, led by soybeans, corn and wheat [1]. Prices for exports to China jumped 2.7%, the most since March 2022 [1]. In our view, that is worth celebrating. But the same report carried a warning light that no honest reader should ignore: import prices are climbing at their fastest annual pace since 2022. Key Takeaways Agricultural export prices rose 2.6% in September and 9.0% over 12 months, and have not fallen on a monthly basis since December 2025 [1]. Prices for U.S. exports to China rose 2.7% in September and 7.5% over the year [1]. Overall export prices rose 11.6% over 12 months, the biggest annual increase since the year ended July 2022 [1]. The catch: import prices rose