Surprise Optimism Among Indiana Farmers
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowDespite challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and lingering trade issues, 2020 may turn out to be a decent year for Indiana farmers after all. That is according to state agriculture leaders, who say an economic outlook that appeared bleak in the spring has shifted. Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler says rebounding commodity prices and an encouraging harvest are providing a ray of sunshine for farmers who suffered through a difficult 2019.
“In the last 3 or 4 weeks, crop prices for corn and soybeans have improved, we’ve had some rebound in some of the livestock prices as well,’ said Kettler. “Hopefully, this gives everybody a little more optimism that we’re going to go into next year with some things that have improved.”
Kettler talked about the state of Indiana agriculture on this weekend’s edition of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.
Brent Bible is one of those Indiana farmers who say things are looking up. Bible is co-owner of Stillwater Farms, a 5,000-acre grain farm in Tippecanoe County. “We really had painted a pretty bleak picture in the spring, and really into mid-summer,” said Bible, adding crop conditions were decent, “but the price levels just weren’t there.”
Bible says as harvest nears completion, he’s adjusting his 2020 outlook, adding that a positive attitude is important for anyone in agriculture.
“You just have to maintain a positive outlook that things will be good, will continue to improve, that we will get better and get over the next hurdle.”