Net farm income has been under pressure again this year due to the challenges marketing grain and that’s likely to continue into 2018 without some major weather problem. Wes Chambers, Regional Vice President with Farm Credit Services, says surprisingly big crops this fall have added to an already burdensome old crop stock situation, especially with corn. So, as lenders they’re trying to work with producers on their marketing plans.
He says their farmer customers were particularly disappointed by the lack of profitable marketing opportunities in the corn market this last year, unless operators were able to add value to that grain through livestock.
He says one of the bright spots this year has been soybean prices which have been above break even for many producers and that has helped their balance sheets.
As the calendar turns to 2018, Chambers says they want to work with producers so they aren’t just forced to make grain sales when they need to generate cash flow.
