By Jamie Martin
Bushel’s 2026 State of the Farm report highlights major trends shaping agriculture today. Surveying over 1,400 farmers across the U.S. and Canada, the report shows a younger, digitally focused farmer population and growing use of technology.
Farmers under 50 now make up 38.4% of respondents, compared to 28.8% last year. This younger group emphasizes mobile-friendly operations, efficiency, and technology adoption.
AI tools are being used in farm management, with 14% of farmers currently applying them. Larger farms mainly use AI for financial and business analysis (50%), while in-field use like yield prediction or agronomy remains limited (25%). This indicates that AI adoption starts in office operations rather than field work.
Online grain marketing is expanding. Digital adoption rose from 21% in 2024 to over 31% in 2026, and 56% of farmers now use apps or software for grain sales. Among farmers under 50, over half plan to use online platforms to submit offers or sell grains when available.
Financial trends show increased reliance on loans. Equipment financing increased to 39.1%, operating loans to 38.9%, and real estate loans to 31.2%. Farmers using ag retailer financing place higher importance on digital tools when choosing lenders.
Payment methods remain in a gap. While most young farmers receive paper checks (82.8%), only 54.9% prefer this method, highlighting a demand for digital payments.
The 2026 report illustrates a farm sector evolving with technology, younger leadership, and digital-first strategies in operations, marketing, and finance.
Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic
Categories: National