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Weather, inputs, and market volatility top list of concerns for winter wheat farmers

Three winter wheat farmers say weather conditions, input costs and market volatility are their top concerns looking at the 2023 season.

Loretto, Kentucky farmer Scott Ebelhar tells Brownfield his crop hasn’t seen any major weather implications so far, but “The next six weeks are always a challenging time for us, depending on what the weather throws at us, to get the weeds controlled and the nitrogen put on timely.”

He says usually they lock in inputs early, but they’ve drug their feet this year in an effort to secure better prices.

“We are really trying to be diligent and put some extra effort into that this year; to not just take the first offer that comes across. It is proving to be favorable on UAN, urea, potash and a couple of pesticides, roundup in particular.”

New Holland, Illinois farmer Grant LaForge says he has also been more strategic with input purchases.

“As far as inputs, I might do a little more shopping, I might do a little more talking, I might do a little more crying on somebody’s shoulder trying to get a better price.”

And Marissa, Illinois farmer Brian Prest says global conflicts and uncertainty continue to create a volatile wheat market.

“There are a lot of empty holes in our markets and we don’t know where that is going to lead us. Hopefully everything stays high, but that is a concern to us.”

Ebelhar, LaForge and Prest were part of a producer panel at the Illinois Double Crop Farmers Forum this week.