Even though we’re freshly in 2025, farmers need to think ahead to the coming years

As farmers prepare for next season, there is a lot to consider.

The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers says you need to think long term.

“Yeah, what I’m focused on is thinking beyond not only ’25 but into ’26 or ’27. We can’t just assume that things are going to bottom in and bounce back quickly. So, for my clients, we’re really looking at their farm operations, their land holdings, and deciding what’s most efficient, where we’re maybe losing some efficiencies and some returns and kind of making plans around that. They focus on getting back to the basics of marketing, along with a lot of farmers I deal with. You know, a lot of us would admit that the good times kind of got us spoiled on the thinking things would never change, and so we kind of got away from some of the basics of blocking and tackling for a football analogy. But basics and marketing are planning to go beyond ’25,” said George Baird.

Baird also says it is important to not rely on a new Farm Bill. While progress is being made on Capitol Hill, he says no one can assume when a five-year deal will be reached.

Related Stories
Prepare for acute UAN risk and a brief urea shock; maintain steady ammonia and phosphate plans, and monitor potash basis on the coasts.
“A government shutdown impacts all Americans and has serious consequences, including for farmers. It just adds additional uncertainty, disrupts critical services.”
Consumer demand for regional food systems is strong, but the challenge lies in scaling production and infrastructure to meet that growing need.
Dave Kestel, a farmer from Will County and member of the Illinois Farm Bureau, joins us to share a boots-on-the-ground update on the 2025 corn harvest.
American Coalition for Ethanol’s Ron Lamberty shares the significance of California’s approval, opening up the country’s largest gasoline market to a cleaner-burning, often lower-cost fuel option.