WAHOO, Neb. (AP) — Strong winds whipped around Doug Bartek, a fifth-generation farmer, as he headed into a grain bin to shovel soybeans onto a conveyor chute. The 60-year-old was anxious as spring planting season began, outlining the myriad of challenges impacting his family's 2,000-acre farm near Wahoo, Nebraska.
The high costs of fuel, equipment, and fertilizer—profoundly influenced by ongoing geopolitical tensions—together with tariffs and low soybean prices due to a global supply surplus, weigh heavily on Bartek, who chairs the Nebraska Soybean Association.
Our biggest struggles are our inputs, such as fertilizer, seed, chemicals, and parts. Everything has drastically increased in price, and it feels like farmers are getting cornered, Bartek remarked.
Bartek's concerns echo among many Midwestern soybean producers as production costs rise while soybean prices remain stagnant. The trade war with China and the resultant tariffs imposed during the Trump administration exacerbated the hardships, crippling market access.
Meanwhile, disruptions caused by the recent Iran conflict have strangled vital supply chains, sending fertilizer prices surging. Although a recent ceasefire may alleviate some restrictions, uncertainty lingers about future agreements, keeping farmers on edge.
“Many producers are anxious with another year of negative financial returns looming,” stated Justin Sherlock, a soybean farmer and president of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association.
Despite record production levels, experts point to the challenges faced by farmers as financial strain mounts. Farmers, many of whom rent land, are experiencing increased rental costs as landowners adjust rents in response to rising property taxes. Additionally, operating costs have been steadily growing since 2020 and are predicted to rise further in 2026.
There's a cash liquidity crunch, and farmers are trying to navigate this tricky landscape, remarked Paul Mitchell, an agricultural economist.
Bartek believes many farmers are being squeezed from all directions, leaving them feeling vulnerable. If we look at global soybean production, it keeps breaking records, inducing price decline. It’s a tough blow for many farmers now, he added.
Looking ahead, farmers' financial troubles are manifesting in increasing bankruptcy rates, prompting concerns for future wellbeing. Bartek reminisced about his excitement every spring, yet acknowledged the harsh realities that lead some farmers to despair over their livelihoods.
