“We’re too good at what we do”
Dave is a hog and soy bean farmer, originally from Jasper County. I met him while at the Poweshiek County Fair, which he has been a part of for many years.
I asked him about the challenges currently facing Iowa farmers. He told me the biggest challenge at the moment is the pricing of goods. Current agricultural markets are forcing some farmers to sell their products for less than it costs to make them, causing many to fall on hard times. For example, it currently costs $11-$12 to produce a bushel of soybeans, which sell for only $9.
When I asked him why this is the case he told me, “we’re too good at what we do”. There’s simply too much supply and not enough demand. He also explained that part of the problem stems from the new tariff laws put in place earlier this year. Major buyers of US agricultural products, like China, are now being forced to buy goods from countries like Brazil where prices are lower.