Farmers warn lawmakers about the fragile state of the ag economy

“It really hamstrings our availability of financing to get loans when everything is costing 30-60% more.”

Farmers are on Capitol Hill this week, warning lawmakers about the state of the ag economy. Profits are tight, and one specialty crop grower warns it could significantly impact when he goes to the bank this year.

“The land cost, all of our input costs, the way they’ve escalated over the past 4-5 years has been nothing like I’ve ever seen before,” said Ryan Talley. “It really hamstrings our availability of financing to get loans when everything is costing 30-60% more. The available funds are no longer available.”

Prop-12 was also a big topic at the hearing.

Related Stories
One drawback of co-equal ownership in estate planning is the right of partition of a co-owner. That’s a particularly acute problem when parents have both on-farm and off-farm heirs.
A family settlement agreement is one method to resolve financial conflicts among family members over assets—if executed properly, that is.
In this Firm to Farm blog post, RFD-TV agri-legal expert Roger McEowen tackles a handful of topics related to property rights.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

This quirky twist on Southern potato salad (without potatoes) skips the spuds but keeps all the flavor! You’ll love this classic Justin Wilson recipe.
Cooked low and slow with wine, garlic, and just enough cayenne to make ya sweat a little—I gar-on-tee Justin Wilson’s Crawfish Maque Choux recipe will have you comin’ back for seconds (and thirds)!
Stuffed with garlic, peppers, and good ol’ Cajun flavor, this pork roast is so tender it’ll fall off the bone before you can say, “I gar-on-tee!”
Justin Wilson’s Shrimp and Macaroni Casserole features bold, Cajun spice and big flavors—you’ll love this easy, crowd-pleasing dish.
Slow-simmered Cajun beans cooked in corned beef stock for rich, Southern flavor—just like Justin Wilson used to make.
A rich, flavorful stock made by simmering corned beef with Cajun seasonings. Justin Wilson’s Eazy Corned Beef Stock recipe adds depth to beans, stews, and classic Southern dishes.