The farming and agriculture industry has been hit hard this year, due to extreme bouts of weather changes and supply chains being disrupted by COVID-19. 

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig tells Raccoon Valley Radio the drought and derecho storm will impact crop yields, but the state was already set up in a good position.

“It’s important to note too, because of the disruption to trade, and because of the disruption to renewable fuels, and ethanol production throughout the year, we’re carrying a lot of corn from last year into this year already. From a supply standpoint, we’re fine. We can do everything we need to do (such as) feed livestock, make ethanol, export, all the uses for corn are okay.”

Naig shares his concerns with how the agriculture industry could be impacted next year.

“We need to reopen our economy and put COVID into the rearview mirror. We need to get a chance to fully benefit from the trade agreements that were put in place last year and earlier this year. The fundamentals are still very, very good for us, and the need for what we produce here and around the world, the demand is still there. So long term, I’m very optimistic.”

Naig adds that he is concerned with the food supply chain disruption that COVID-19 has caused to the ag-sector and wants to see that propel forward and open back up soon. To hear more from Naig, listen to today’s Community State Bank in Paton Let’s Talk Greene County program.