crop harvestWith crop yields predicted to be similar to last year in Greene County but grain prices remaining low, how does that affect the farming community?

West Central Cooperative Field Agronomist Scott Shannon says corn is about $3.50 per bushel and soybeans are about $9 per bushel, which is far from what the prices were a few years ago when corn was at $6 to $7 per bushel and soybeans were at $14 per bushel.  The low grain prices are having a trickle down effect for farmers.

“Without higher prices right now, a lot of guys are going into not buying mode on stuff.  They’ve had a chance to update some stuff and they’re just holding off and sitting tight til things kind of come back into check.”

Pat Griffin with West Central explains the factors that are affecting the low grain prices.

“The main thing that we are seeing is the uncertainty of what final yields will be.  They look good on the soybean side (and) extreme variability all throughout the Midwest on corn yields.”

With that kind of outlook, Paton farmer Jonathan Marshall says it’s been a struggle for some farmers because they have to keep funds for other inputs and can’t buy new equipment, which goes back to the manufacturer that can’t build any new product and cause layoffs, like at some John Deere facilities.  Times have gotten tough enough, that some farmers have had to close up their operations.

 Shannon says early yield figures are about the same as last year with soybeans between 50 to 65 bushels per acre and early corn yields are 170 to 200 bushels per acre.  He points out that farmers may hold off bringing in their grain until they see prices rebound.

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