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An improved outlook for 2023

A cow/calf operator in eastern South Dakota says from cattle markets to crops he’s optimistic about 2023.

Todd Wilkinson tells Brownfield this year is off to a better start than he could have expected.  “I think we’re going to have a bang-up year,” he says. 

Wilkinson, who is also president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says the outlook right now for cow/calf producers is impressive.

“They are enjoying prices that they have only dreamed about and with the cost of production being what it is for them to actually be able to get a return on their investment, it’s phenomenal,” he says. 

And it’s setting up to be a better-than-average year for corn and soybean producers.  “We’ve had a little bit of dip in corn and soybean prices lately, but prices are hanging in there and it looks like it can make a profit,” he says.

Wilkinson tells Brownfield he’s still a few weeks from being able to start planting corn. “If we pulled the corn planter out right now ur soil temperatures are at least 10 degrees below where they need to be,” he says.  “And we need some heat.”

And even though it’s been a very snowy winter in South Dakota, he says he wouldn’t turn away some rain. “We had a lot of snow,” he says.  “It has melted and it’s actually soaked down. But we could use some rain on that top 6-7 inches and it would really help.”

AUDIO: Todd Wilkinson, De Smit, South Dakota