Crops and Weather Outlook
The crops are looking very good where I live. In fact, according to Pro Farmer, Minnesota currently has the highest yield potential in the U.S. — which is far from normal. Yes, we’ve had more than our share of moisture and some drowned-out spots, but overall it’s been much better than last year.
That said, I hesitate to get too excited. Every 3–5 days we seem to face another storm threat. So far, so good — and I’m just praying the weather stays in our favor.
We’re also emptying our grain bins in anticipation of needing the space. This is not our usual practice; normally we like to carry over some corn into the next year. But with this crop, I don’t think we’ll need it.
Pig Health Challenges
We are in the midst of selling pigs right now. The past couple of months, however, have been difficult. We’ve seen pigs dying from hemorrhagic bowel syndrome — a sudden-death condition with no visible signs of illness. One day it’s one pig, the next day a couple more. It’s not something I ever remember dealing with before, and it’s been a challenge for our operation.
Farm Payments – A Divisive Issue
Farm payments are a hot topic in agriculture. Are they good for the sector, or do they create dependency?
On one hand, farming is tough. Margins are often razor thin, and assistance can be the difference between survival and failure. On the other, critics argue that payments prop up less efficient operations that might not survive otherwise.
Personally, I see both sides of the argument.
Turmoil in the Ag World
There’s been a lot of buzz online around Beth Ford’s recent piece, A Storm is Approaching in America’s Agriculture. It’s an important commentary, and I encourage others to give it a read and reflect on the challenges facing our industry.
Farm Fest Recap
I recently attended Farm Fest, and here are a few key takeaways from the Ag Policy sessions:
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Leaders including Michelle Fischbach, Brad Finstad, Pete Stauber, Angie Craig, and USDA’s Stephen Vaden shared perspectives on the future of agriculture.
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Vaden highlighted the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill (BBB), including tax certainty, near-elimination of the death tax, and reforms that should have been in the Farm Bill.
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Proposition 12 remains a major concern — one state dictating standards for the entire nation is not workable.
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Debates over potential SNAP benefit cuts raised worries about shifting costs onto counties through property tax increases.
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Rep. Finstad stressed that the BBB helps farmers focus on markets, not mandates, with permanent tax cuts.
The current Farm Bill is being called the “skinny farm bill” since much is addressed in the BBB, but farmers remain watchful.
At another session on the Reliable Ag Policy Safety Net, concerns centered around low commodity prices despite the potential for a bumper crop. Farmers need more than yield — they need margins.
The consistent message? We need both political sides to come together. Rural America depends on it.
Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture
I also attended a session titled How AI is Reshaping Agriculture, featuring Zach Johnson (Millennial Farmer), Ken O’Brien (Corteva), and Don Scriber (TerraClear).
Highlights:
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AI is helping farmers and agronomists make immediate, real-time decisions.
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Agronomists who embrace AI may replace those who don’t.
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AI can monitor crops continuously and flag needs such as fungicide applications.
When asked if AI might ever replace humans on the farm, the panel answered “no” — but admitted the future is uncertain.
Top AI apps mentioned: ChatGPT and Grok.
As someone with a computer background, I find AI fascinating. Even at my age, I want to keep learning.
On the Personal Side
Outside of farming, I love music — especially live music. Recently, I had the chance to see Night Ranger and the Goo Goo Dolls in concert. Both put on excellent shows. Hearing Iris performed live was a real highlight.
👉 What do you think about the current state of ag policy and the future of technology on farms? Let’s keep the conversation going. Minnesota Farm Living wandapatsche@substack.com
