Worse Before It Gets Better: Farmers express doubts about an industry turnaround this year

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.

Related Stories
BOI reaches the Supreme Court.
The CEO of the National Potato Council says folks are asking the right questions, but their concerns may be presumptive.
Rural areas across the United States are experiencing significant shortages of attorneys, CPAs and other tax professionals, creating “legal deserts” that hinder farmers and ranchers’ access to essential business services.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard joins Market Day Report for his insight on the USDA’s plan to strengthen the U.S. beef industry.
For our Countdown to Convention with Culver’s, we explore how the sea of FFA blue impacts local businesses.
Until a phased reopening is inked, plan for tighter feeder availability, firmer basis near border yards, and continued reliance on domestic and Canadian sources.
Despite calm, sunny conditions to start the morning, the veteran duo quickly deciphered the bite – then shifted gears perfectly when the fish changed.
Agriculture Shows
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.