You can feel the strain as the system works with what we have been given.

The 70’s Grain Robberies 
Carters Embargo 
The 80’s Farm Crisis
90’s trade liberalization and the emergence of China as a major buyer
00’s Crude Oil spikes and the emergence of ethanol
Trumps Trade war
Bidens 6.5 Trillion spending plans and inflation.

A lot of $$$ has been thrown at ag.  We have high valuations.. Land, inputs, machinery etc.. but also opportunities.  It’s been all hands on deck here.

We are thankful for the investments made...new equipment is too expensive for us so we’re relying on 15 year old technology.. and for the most part it’s holding up.

Weve got a crop of younger farmers who are learning the ropes.. baptism by fire.. and they are mostly working through it.. some farming families will not survive.. it’s sad to watch but efficiencies March on.  The stories are the same just the scale increases.

Its incredible the amount of $$$ it takes to operate.. $14,000 semi loads of fertilizer x 15ish so far.. seed.. fuel.. parts. 

etc.

We went soybeans first.. which logistically works a little better.. and they are 67% emerged.. were also 67% in on the corn.. finally having some calm days to spray.

egeryone can complain about the Trump $$$ and subsidies.. but for most of us.. we’re using all assets to get the crops in.. which in this environment.. failing safrinha (double crop) vs pandemic recovery.. spiked with $$$ printing inflation.. Needs us to produce.

For the most part.. we’re getting the job done.  The coop spent tens of millions putting in bulk fertilizer storage which not only our patrons.. but the neighbors came to borrow on.. as things have become tight.. and it’s flying out the door.

Cover Crops.. sprayed down.. with a few showers are planting very nicely.  So.. The Whole system is working.. it doesn’t make sense.. $7.00 corn and the ethanol plants are grinding away.. but here we are.

dryland corn and especially sorghum acres will be up.. the wheat is turning blue but these cooler temps are helping for now.. but we need rains.

Salute guys.. hang in there.. get er done. 

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