Agriculture

Ag bankers consider 2019, look forward to 2020

When Midwestern ag bankers consider 2020, they expect some challenges for their farmer customers, not unlike the year that just ended. In 2019, struggles included severely wet weather, flooding, low commodity prices and a trade war with China. Changes within the dairy industry — from proposed regulations to breeding advancements — affected that sector. [Continue]

Weather, trade make for dizzying year in ag

This will be a year to remember as weather patterns went from wet, to dry, to wet again in many parts of the country. Trade negotiations improved, deteriorated, improved and deteriorated again. Yet, notwithstanding the rollercoaster ride, the financial conditions of agriculture changed little due to government payments.  [Continue]

Ag tech transforms the field for today’s farmers

Growers Edge Financial, Johnston, Iowa, is carving a path as an innovator in melding financial technology into the ag sector. Joe Young, its co-founder and president, offers insight about how these two worlds come together. [Continue]

Ag credit continues as relief flows

A tractor pulling a harrow bar across a field for spring preparation in rural dramatic black and white landscape

President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war with China is taking its own toll on the ag industry. But it has come at a time of unprecedented weather events, and the phenomena are a one-two punch.  [Continue]

Your customers want to know what you are thinking

I speak on farm finance to farmer audiences all over the country. Thanks to the poor farm economy there have been great similarities in the audience member outlook no matter where in the country I have been. Simply stated, your customers are worried. [Continue]

Flipping the narrative on ag is imperative

The future is fairly bright despite the current financial indicators because the working capital crunch that exists in agriculture now is temporary. The prospects for long-term growth in demand for products is actually quite positive. [Continue]

FAQs on industrial hemp

Industrial hemp was legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is gathering information to develop regulations for an industrial hemp program. Here, we offer a quick introduction to the plant and issues around it. [Continue]

Consequences of trade disputes mounting

Chad Hart is an agriculture economist and assistant professor at Iowa State University, Ames. BankBeat columnist Justin Dullum talked to Hart about the mounting effects of trade negotiations on the ag industry and what might be in store for 2019. [Continue]

Farmer or farm worker? A critical distinction for CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a study in 2016 on the suicide rate amongst farmers and discovered rates significantly higher than with any other occupational group. This led to a flurry of reporting about trouble in the heartland, including our own. The real picture is more nuanced, but no less challenging. [Continue]