Which agricultural stock is the best?

There's no best agricultural stock, but Deere & Co. has historically been one of the best stocks with exposure to the agriculture industry. It's a leading producer of agricultural machinery and also sells tech-based services to help farmers get better yields.

Is it smart to invest in farmland?

You don't have to own farmland to invest in it directly. You can buy shares of a farmland REIT like Gladstone Land (NASDAQ: LAND) and Farmland Partners (NYSE: FPI) to get exposure to the industry. These stocks have done poorly over the last decade, though historically, farmland has appreciated in value.

What is the best fertilizer stock to buy?

Nutrien is the world's largest soft rock miner and potash producer and is a low-cost producer in categories like potash and nitrogen.

What are the agricultural stocks with the highest dividends?

Some agricultural stocks with high dividend yields include Scotts Miracle-Gro at 4.4%, Nutrien at 3.2%, and Archer-Daniels Midland at 2.5%.

Why are agricultural stocks up?

Agricultural stocks have risen in recent months due to rising seed prices, a weakening dollar, and bets that spending on equipment will rebound. The war in Iran has also helped lift prices for commodities like fertilizer.

What are the potential returns of agriculture stocks?

Potential returns among agriculture stocks vary according to the individual risk and growth profiles. Some agriculture stocks have historically delivered high returns but have faced challenges more recently. Still, companies with a track record of growth and innovation, like Deere & Co., look like a good bet to deliver superior returns.

Do agriculture stocks pay dividends?

Yes, agriculture stocks typically pay dividends. Investors should consider their dividends when estimating their potential returns.

Best Agriculture Stocks to Buy in 2026

Top Agriculture Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

By Jeremy Bowman – Updated Aug 19, 2026 at 8:32 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Agricultural stocks offer dividend opportunities amidst market volatility due to global conflicts.
Investing in companies like ADM and Nutrien provides exposure to essential consumer staples.
Top agriculture stocks like Bayer and Bunge are key for diversified investment in food production.

Agriculture is a life-sustaining operation, and there are numerous ways for investors to own a piece of the action, including investing in agricultural stocks.

Like much of the global economy, the agricultural industry is sensitive to a wide range of global events, including wars, natural disasters, and political turmoil. Given that, the industry has been volatile as the war in Ukraine has occasionally squeezed the supply of products such as wheat and fertilizers.

Agribusiness is big business and touches on a wide array of industries. The scale required for operations has led to market power concentrated in a handful of titans following a series of mergers and acquisitions. These companies -- many with healthy profits, cash flows, and dividends -- offer excellent opportunities for investors.

Top eight agriculture stocks to invest in 2026

Investors can choose among companies providing agricultural products and services such as fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, processing, and livestock. There are also a handful of emerging markets. As producers of basic foods, many agricultural stocks are considered consumer staples, meaning that demand for their products is not affected by the broader economy. However, because of their sensitivity to commodity prices, many of them move like materials companies.

Here's a list of eight top dividend-paying agriculture stocks spanning a variety of investment opportunities. They include Archer-Daniels-Midland, Bayer, Bunge, Scotts Miracle-Gro, Corteva, Nutrien, FMC, and Tyson Foods.

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Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Market capMarket cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.	Dividend yield	Industry
Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM)	$40.7 billion	2.45%	Food Products
Bayer Aktiengesellschaft (OTC:BAYRY)	$56.4 billion	0.22%	Pharmaceuticals
Bunge Global (NYSE:BG)	$23.1 billion	2.36%	Food Products
Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE:SMG)	$3.5 billion	4.45%	Chemicals
Corteva (NYSE:CTVA)	$59.1 billion	0.81%	Chemicals
Nutrien (NYSE:NTR)	$38.5 billion	2.71%	Chemicals
FMC (NYSE:FMC)	$1.6 billion	6.32%	Chemicals
Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN)	$17.8 billion	3.94%	Food Products

Data as of Sep 4, 2026. Showing 8 of 8 total entries.

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1. Archer-Daniels-Midland

NYSE: ADM

Archer-Daniels-Midland

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

59/100

Today's Change

(-1.17%) $-1.00

Current Price

$84.38

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$41B

Day's Range

$83.23 - $85.64

52wk Range

$55.58 - $88.46

Volume

3.6K

Avg Vol

3.6M

Gross Margin

7.02%

Dividend Yield

2.45%

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Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) is a global agricultural giant known for processing and trading commodity products, including food ingredients, animal feeds, and biofuels.

It produces a wide variety of crops, including soybeans, corn, and wheat, and also innovates, having developed or contributed to the development of products like textured vegetable protein, high-fructose corn syrup, ethanol, and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Today, the company is one of the largest in the country by revenue, bringing in $80 billion in 2025. It's paid dividends for 94 consecutive years, and it's a Dividend King, having raised its dividend every year for 53 years.

ADM delivered steady profit growth from 2016 to 2022, benefiting from strong demand for crops and biofuel. However, profits pulled back through 2025 due to weak crush margins, or the processing of soybeans into meal and oil. In 2026, profits have bounced back as the war in Iran sent demand for biofuel up as a substitute for oil.

Over the long term, ADM's economies of scale and vertical integration give it a competitive advantage in agriculture, and investors should expect steady growth as global demand for food and biofuels continues to grow.

2. Bayer

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OTC: BAYRY

Bayer Aktiengesellschaft

Today's Change

(0.88%) $0.13

Current Price

$14.35

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$56B

Day's Range

$14.32 - $14.57

52wk Range

$7.48 - $15.23

Volume

4.1K

Avg Vol

899.9K

Gross Margin

59.05%

Dividend Yield

0.22%

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Bayer is a diversified company with products spanning healthcare, agriculture, and consumer goods. It makes medicines like aspirin, Aleve, and Alka-Seltzer; in agriculture, it's probably best known as the maker of Roundup, the popular weed killer, which it obtained when it acquired Monsanto for $63 billion in 2018.

It's one of the world's largest producers of crop protection products and seeds, and a major player in consumer health and pharmaceuticals.

In February 2024, the company slashed its dividend by 95% to free up cash to pay down its debt, leading to a sharp stock slide. Through the beginning of 2026, the company continued to face a challenging agricultural climate, and volume sales had fallen in areas like crop science and consumer health. However, the company scored a major legal victory in June when the Supreme Court ruled that federal pesticide laws pre-empt state failure-to-warn claims, putting a $7.25 billion settlement over claims that Roundup caused cancer.

The stock soared on the news, though the growth in the business has been modest with organic sales up 3.3% in the first half of 2026 to 24.3 billion euros, and adjusted EBITDA up 6.6% to 6.6 billion euros.

3. Bunge

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NYSE: BG

Bunge Global

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

64/100

Today's Change

(-2.23%) $-2.74

Current Price

$120.12

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$23B

Day's Range

$118.26 - $122.94

52wk Range

$76.01 - $134.87

Volume

1.4K

Avg Vol

1.5M

Gross Margin

4.87%

Dividend Yield

2.36%

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Bunge is a diversified agriculture company whose businesses range from oil production to milling to grain and commodity production. It also produces sugar and ethanol.

The business results were mixed in 2025, but investors were pleased with its $34 billion merger with grain handler Viterra, including debt. That led to a surge in revenue in 2025, which jumped 32% to $70.3 billion.

Bunge's gross profit was flat; however, as much of its business involves buying commodities and adding value through milling and oil production.

Management faced challenging market conditions in 2024 as prices in its milling business and in commodities like ethanol, refined, and specialty oils were down.

Bunge stock jumped in the first half of 2026 due to better-than-expected oilspeed processing margins and the benefits of expanded scale from its Viterra acquisition. The company also raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance from $9.00-$9.50 to $9.25-$9.75 in the second quarter.

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4. Scotts Miracle-Gro

NYSE: SMG

Scotts Miracle-Gro

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

49/100

Today's Change

(-1.13%) $-0.68

Current Price

$59.29

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$3.5B

Day's Range

$58.06 - $60.89

52wk Range

$52.00 - $75.34

Volume

24.5

Avg Vol

929.7K

Gross Margin

32.31%

Dividend Yield

4.45%

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Scotts Miracle-Gro is a leader in lawn care products, but unlike most companies on this list, it sells to individual consumers rather than to large food supply chain companies.

Because of its leading position in lawn care, the company was a big winner in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has struggled in its aftermath. Its Hawthorne unit, focused on cannabis, has been a sore spot amid a broader downturn in the cannabis sector, and it completed its divestiture of Hawthorne earlier this year.

A restructuring strategy has helped streamline the business, and through the first half of fiscal 2026, it was targeting low-single-digit in the core U.S. consumer business. Cost-cutting initiatives have helped boost margins, and it's paid down some of its debt, improving its leverage ratio.

In August, the company unveiled goals for fiscal 2027 through fiscal 2029, targeting total sales of 2%-4% and adjusted EPS growth of 5%-8%, in line with its SMG 2.0 plan.

While the company is still reinventing itself, it remains the top brand in at-home lawn care, which should give an edge over the long term.

5. Corteva Agriscience

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NYSE: CTVA

Corteva

Today's Change

(-1.50%) $-1.35

Current Price

$88.62

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$59B

Day's Range

$87.96 - $90.87

52wk Range

$60.53 - $90.97

Volume

2.1K

Avg Vol

4.5M

Gross Margin

45.41%

Dividend Yield

0.81%

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Corteva Agriscience was formed as a spinoff of DowDuPont's agriculture division following its split into three companies.

Corteva focuses on crop protection products like herbicides and insecticides, seed products for corn, soybeans, wheat, and other commodities, digital tools and services like planting technology and soil mapping, and soil testing and crop scouting.

The company is coming off a solid 2025 as operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) was up 14% even on a 3% increase in sales to $17.4 billion.

It also delivered 5% growth in crop protection volumes, though prices were down 2%, as it benefited from a strong market position in corn and soybean seeds.

In its Q2 2026 earnings report, it raised its full-year operating earnings per share guidance 11% to $3.60-$3.80, noting strong end-market demand with seed demand driven by adoption of Corteva's specialized technologies.

In October 2025, Corteva announced it would split into two companies, with the spin-off, Vylor, focused on advanced genetics and breeding, and the crop protection business will remain with Corteva. The spin-off is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026.

6. Nutrien

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NYSE: NTR

Nutrien

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

70/100

Today's Change

(0.55%) $0.44

Current Price

$80.73

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$39B

Day's Range

$79.43 - $80.92

52wk Range

$53.03 - $85.36

Volume

7.8K

Avg Vol

2.8M

Gross Margin

31.02%

Dividend Yield

2.71%

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Nutrien is a leading producer of fertilizer, crop protection products, and seeds. It was formed in 2018 through the merger of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan and Agrium.

The stock has historically been volatile as fertilizer prices can swing significantly due to geopolitical events like the war in Ukraine or, more recently, Iran.

Fertilizer prices bounced back in 2025, leading to revenue rising 4% to $26.9 billion and 13% adjusted EBITDA to $6.04 billion. Nutrien is still delivering strong profits and remains the low-cost leader in the fertilizer industry, giving it a long-term advantage. That momentum has continued into 2026, with revenue up 8% to $16.9 billion and adjusted EBITDA up 6% to $3.54 billion, as the conflict in Iran has raised prices for key commodities like grain and oilseed.

7. FMC Corp.

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NYSE: FMC

FMC

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

30/100

Today's Change

(-2.63%) $-0.35

Current Price

$12.98

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$1.6B

Day's Range

$12.38 - $13.42

52wk Range

$9.95 - $38.68

Volume

17.2K

Avg Vol

4.1M

Gross Margin

33.06%

Dividend Yield

6.32%

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FMC is a chemical company that serves the agriculture, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.

In agriculture, it's best known for helping farmers improve crop yield and quality while limiting environmental impact.

2025 was a rough year for the company as revenue fell 18% to $3.47 billion, due in part to competition from generic alternatives, as it was forced to lower prices on Rynaxpyr, an insecticide. It also took a $510 million impairment on its India business due to weakness in that segment, and as it prepared to sell the Indian crop protection commercial business.

FMC has continued to struggle in 2026 with revenue and profits continuing to decline, in part from pressure on the India business. It also cut its outlook in its Q2 report, calling for a 7% decline in revenue excluding India to $3.5 billion-$3.7 billion. It also expects a 55% decline in adjusted earnings per share to $1.19-$1.49.

8. Tyson Foods

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NYSE: TSN

Tyson Foods

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

48/100

Today's Change

(-7.26%) $-4.05

Current Price

$51.76

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$18B

Day's Range

$51.05 - $53.15

52wk Range

$50.56 - $69.48

Volume

Avg Vol

3.3M

Gross Margin

6.21%

Dividend Yield

3.94%

Loading company_card...

Tyson Foods is one of the world's largest producers of poultry, pork, and beef, and also produces animal feed for its own livestock and other farmers. It's vertically integrated into prepared foods as well, selling pizza, toppings, deli meats, and snacks through brands like Ball Park, Aidells, Jimmy Dean, and Hillshire Farm.

Through the first three quarters of 2026, Tyson reported 3% revenue growth to $41.8 billion, while adjusted operating income was down 4% to $1.61 billion. Higher beef prices have led to falling volumes, and price increases in pork and chicken were modest. For the full year, revenue is expected to increase 2.5%-3.5%, reaching around $56 billion, and it forecast adjusted operating income of $2.1 billion-$2.3 billion.

Although quarter-to-quarter performance in the agriculture industry is volatile, Tyson should benefit from economies of scale and its strong position in higher-margin prepared foods over the long term.

How to invest in agriculture stocks

Here's a step-by-step guide for how to invest in agriculture stocks.

Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments. If you don't have one yet, take a look at our favorite brokers and trading platforms to find the right one for you.
Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

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Benefits and risks of investing in agriculture stocks

Agricultural stocks don't get as much attention as some corners of the stock market, but they have some advantages.

Agricultural companies provide necessary goods. While commodity prices can fluctuate substantially, there will continue to be demand for seeds, fertilizers, and crop protection chemicals.
Most of these companies pay a dividend, so investors can earn money without share price appreciation.
Agriculture stocks can spike during economic or geopolitical shocks, such as the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.

There are also risks to investing in agriculture stocks.

Commodity prices are difficult to predict and can respond to a wide range of events, including geopolitical events, natural disasters, and economic turmoil. Commodity stocks in agriculture are volatile.
Overall, agriculture is a mature, slow-growth industry. While there are pockets of faster growth, investors may miss out on higher-growth opportunities by investing in ag stocks.
Regulations and lawsuits also add to the risk in agriculture stocks. Bayer's Monsanto, for example, has faced a slew of lawsuits, and there's potential for new regulations on chemicals, land use, and environmental preservation in agriculture.

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Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

The agricultural sector is far-reaching, encompassing stocks that deal with commodities like seeds and grains, chemicals, crop protection specialists, fertilizers, animal feed, and, finally, the end product.

The stocks on this list run the gamut of core agricultural stocks like Archer-Daniels-Midland and Nutrien, while giving exposure to specialists like Scotts Miracle-Gro in lawn care and Tyson Foods in meatpacking.

If you're looking for exposure to agricultural stocks, you can probably find at least one stock on this list that fits with your investing style.

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The bottom line

Agricultural stocks offer a wide range of options for investors, ranging from commodities to chemicals to food products, and even science and technology.

The sector has been historically cyclical, but moves at a different cycle than the broader economy, making it a good way to diversify from sectors like industrials and financials.

Though most of these stocks have underperformed the market in recent years, there is still room for a breakout, especially if commodity prices cooperate. For investors looking for defensive, dividend-paying stocks that can outperform in a bear market, it's a good idea to consider the agricultural sector.

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Agriculture stocks FAQ

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About the Author

Jeremy Bowman has been a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst, covering technology, consumer goods, and macroeconomic trends since 2011. Before The Motley Fool, Jeremy was a newspaper reporter, restaurant manager, and English teacher abroad. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Colorado College and a master’s degree in business administration from American University. One of his Motley Fool headlines was briefly featured on Late Night with Stephen Colbert.

TMFHobo

@TMFBowman

Jeremy Bowman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Nutrien and Scotts Miracle-Gro. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Top Agriculture Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Key Points

Top eight agriculture stocks to invest in 2026

1. Archer-Daniels-Midland

Key Data Points

2. Bayer

Key Data Points

3. Bunge

Key Data Points

4. Scotts Miracle-Gro

Key Data Points

5. Corteva Agriscience

Key Data Points

6. Nutrien

Key Data Points

7. FMC Corp.

Key Data Points

8. Tyson Foods

Key Data Points

How to invest in agriculture stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in agriculture stocks

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

The bottom line

Related investing topics

Best Tobacco Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Best Consumer Discretionary Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them

7 Best Retail Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

5 Best Energy Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Agriculture stocks FAQ

Which agricultural stock is the best?

Which agricultural stock is the best?

Is it smart to invest in farmland?

Is it smart to invest in farmland?

What is the best fertilizer stock to buy?

What is the best fertilizer stock to buy?

What are the agricultural stocks with the highest dividends?

What are the agricultural stocks with the highest dividends?

Why are agricultural stocks up?

Why are agricultural stocks up?

What are the potential returns of agriculture stocks?

What are the potential returns of agriculture stocks?

Do agriculture stocks pay dividends?

Do agriculture stocks pay dividends?

About the Author

Read Next

Stocks Mentioned

Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s Latest Pick

Premium Investing Services

Top eight agriculture stocks to invest in 2026

Key Data Points

2. Bayer

Key Data Points

3. Bunge

Key Data Points

5. Corteva Agriscience

Key Data Points

6. Nutrien

Key Data Points

7. FMC Corp.

Key Data Points

8. Tyson Foods

Key Data Points

How to invest in agriculture stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in agriculture stocks

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

The bottom line

Best Tobacco Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Best Consumer Discretionary Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them

7 Best Retail Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

5 Best Energy Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Agriculture stocks FAQ

Which agricultural stock is the best?

Which agricultural stock is the best?

Is it smart to invest in farmland?

Is it smart to invest in farmland?

What is the best fertilizer stock to buy?

What is the best fertilizer stock to buy?

What are the agricultural stocks with the highest dividends?

What are the agricultural stocks with the highest dividends?

Why are agricultural stocks up?