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Farmers continue to face tight margins

Purdue University Ag Economist Chris Hurt says farmers continue to face tight margins and trade uncertainty in 2019.

“Margins are not quite as extremely tight as they were 2-3 years ago, but still tight margins where farmer have to use everything they can to drive their cost per bushel lower,” he says.

But, he tells Brownfield there is some good news when it comes to new crop prices for corn and soybeans.

“On corn, $4 or higher- we think probably some $4.10-$4.20 and soybeans perhaps we get up in the $9.60-$9.80 range,” he says.

Hurt says farmers should be more aggressive when pricing soybeans because prices will drop if the U.S. and China don’t come to an agreement.

“If we don’t get that settlement, I think we’ll see prices in the high $7 range,” he says.

Hurt spoke to Brownfield at the Fort Wayne Farm Show

Audio: Chris Hurt, Purdue University