WIA Summit: Analyst Details Forces Changing US Agriculture
The 2026 Women in Agribusiness Summit took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, US.
By Susan Reidy
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, US (October 21, 2026) — Multiple forces are reshaping US agriculture, leading to structural and cyclical changes, according to Jacqui Fatka, lead analyst for CoBank, who delivered the keynote address at the summit.
She highlighted key global shifts, including:
- Shifting demographics: The world's population is aging, and China is reducing its reliance on agricultural imports.
- America First trade policy: This is impacting global trade flows.
Five Key Forces Shaping Agriculture:
- Compressed Margins: Higher production costs, debt, and interest rates are squeezing farm profits. Five bushels of corn are needed to cover farmers' diesel cost per acre.
- Increased Dependence on Government Payments: With requested aid, 33% of projected farm income will come from government payments.
- Rising Farmland Values: Preventing a return to the farm crisis of the 1980s, farmland values have climbed steadily.
- Protein Demand Driven by GLP-1 Medications: Growing use of these medications for weight loss is boosting demand for protein, particularly beef.
- Biofuels Potential: While current biofuels demand is saturated, new sources of demand are needed for sustainable growth.
The Summit:
More than 650 attendees from across the agriculture supply chain, representing 41 states and 13 countries, participated in the 15th annual WIA Summit. The event featured:
- Over 60 industry expert speakers
- 20 sessions
- Networking opportunities
The summit celebrated the International Year of the Woman Farmer with new leadership awards and the Demeter Award of Excellence.