A lot of farmers and ranchers are looking for a rebound this year. One agronomist says he is hearing from many producers who do not know how much longer they will be in business.
“The biggest thing is, what are we going to plant to try to not only make money, but just to stay in business for another year? Because commodity prices are pretty tough right now, the acre shifts are jumping all over the place. I mean, we’re seeing cotton down a little bit, and beans and corn maybe up a little bit. But honestly, most of the guys are saying, ‘You know what, I’m just going to plant what I normally plant, to some degree, and do what I know how to do,” said Zack Webb.
Webb says he has heard a lot of talk about the current shakeups in Washington, D.C., and he tells all his clients to be patient and let the process play out.
“I think most of these guys realize that this first year is going to be tough, whether it’s tariffs or whatever, or a reduction in spending and things like that,” he said. “But I think they also realize that it’s going to take us a year or two to get to where we need to be and to fix some problems that we’ve had.”
At the end of the day, Webb says it will likely get worse before it gets better.
Treat financial stress as a health risk—know the warning signs, normalize conversations, and connect farm families to local and national support early.
October 07, 2025 11:29 AM
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Focus on home radon testing—not changing your diet—because background sources vastly outweigh any exposure from naturally radioactive foods.
October 06, 2025 01:29 PM
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Jack Daniel’s will end its Cow Feeder Program, which served around 100 livestock operations near the distillery, and redirect spent grains to its anaerobic digester.
October 06, 2025 12:33 PM
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Prepare for acute UAN risk and a brief urea shock; maintain steady ammonia and phosphate plans, and monitor potash basis on the coasts.
October 06, 2025 11:56 AM
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“A government shutdown impacts all Americans and has serious consequences, including for farmers. It just adds additional uncertainty, disrupts critical services.”
October 06, 2025 11:23 AM
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Agricultural exports continue to be a key contributor to rural employment. However, rural businesses still struggle to fill numerous job openings.
October 06, 2025 10:46 AM
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Farm debt is climbing to record levels at ag banks, reflecting pressure on crop producers’ finances even as livestock and land values lend stability to the sector.
October 03, 2025 03:53 PM
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University of Illinois Ag Economist Gary Schnitker says early projections indicate soybeans will be more profitable than corn in 2026.
October 03, 2025 11:53 AM
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Approximately 42,000 birds were affected in the outbreak, officials said.
October 03, 2025 10:50 AM
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