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Concerns about production costs and weather loom

As farmers from around the country gather in Orlando for Commodity Classic weather, yields, and cost of production are dominating much of the hallway conversations. 

Southern Indiana farmer David Ring says there has been improvement in some aspects of farming, but not across the board. “Fertilizer is actually stabilizing and coming down a bit,” he says. “But chemicals have gone the other way. So inputs are a concern and equipment is the same way.  If something happens, can we get parts?  Are they available?” 

South-central Minnesota farmer Kevin Paap says drought conditions have improved since the fall of 2022 and that has made a huge difference.  “We had a lot of snow early,” he says.  “So the frost is not that deep.  So most of the snow and the moisture, and we’ve been having some rain, is actually soaking in.”

AUDIO: Kevin Paap, south-central Minnesota farmer