NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Low prices and high costs do not make idling a real option for most farm and ranch operations, argues Dr. Joe Outlaw of Texas A&M’s Agricultural & Food Policy Center in an interview with Southern Ag Today.
So, “If Crop Returns are so Bad, Why Do Farmers Keep Planting?”
Shutting down guarantees zero cash flow to service debt, payroll, and family living, while ceding global market share to competitors who would quickly ramp up output.
Switching crops is not a simple fix either: many crops now pencil similarly thin or negative, multiyear rotations protect soil health and weed control, and equipment and storage are often crop-specific.
Outlaw adds that farmers are uniquely optimistic—planting with the expectation that weather, basis, and prices can improve by harvest—and that the profession is an identity, not just a job.
The upshot: producers keep planting to preserve business continuity, agronomic systems, and future market position, even when spreadsheets look grim. That’s also why Congress and administrations have long supported agriculture when risks beyond farmers’ control overwhelm margins.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Planting sustains cash flow, rotations, and market share—even in lean years.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Expert
Rodeo Austin exhibitor reflects on years of showing and the routines that get her ready for the ring.
March 27, 2026 04:37 PM
·
SoilView’s Chris Nelson explains why soil testing is essential, how it enhances nutrient management, and why growers should focus on data-driven strategies to guide planting and fertilization this year.
March 27, 2026 04:16 PM
·
Exhibitor Camdyn Neuman reflects on family and the life lessons learned through showing cattle at the Rodeo Houston Livestock Show.
March 27, 2026 03:19 PM
·
Rodeo Austin exhibitor reflects on years of experience and the bond formed through training difficult cattle
March 27, 2026 03:16 PM
·
RealAg Radio’s Shaun Haney discusses Canada’s new soil health strategy, its implications for producers, and its potential to support sustainable agriculture in Canada compared to USDA funding for conservation.
March 27, 2026 03:15 PM
·
National Association of Wheat Growers President Jamie Kress discusses how rising fertilizer prices pressure wheat producers and the Administration’s consideration of lowering duties on Moroccan phosphate.
March 27, 2026 02:32 PM
·
