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Minnesota farmer marketing for next year as high input costs loom large

A farmer in southern Minnesota is confronting high input costs head on.

Sam Ziegler grows corn and soybeans near Good Thunder.

“I’ve been more aggressive on the marketing for next year than I have been in the past, to the point where it’s like if you can lock in five and-a-half dollar corn and other things for over a year out, I think history has taught us what goes up must come down.”

He tells Brownfield risk management is crucial with production costs at historic levels.

“So I’ve (made some sales) and hopefully that will help secure and give me at least some cover in case something drastically changes where prices go down and expenses stay up.”

Ziegler says he’s trying to price diesel and fertilizer for next year and the quotes he’s seeing aren’t very “attractive” right now.