09/20/2018

Soybean, Corn Farmers Challenged by Price Drops

Industry trade groups speak out over members' concerns

While they differ in their assessment of causes, several local farmers agree on their current situation: it’s a challenging time to be a farmer in Ohio.

This summer, prices for the area’s most significant crops, soybeans and corn, have dropped substantially due to two main factors: tariffs on American soybeans imposed by the Chinese, and the expectation of a robust harvest. And lower prices means that farmers will come away from selling their crops with diminished profits.

“People are discouraged about the prices,” longtime farmer Lamar Spracklen said in an interview this week. “It means you don’t buy equipment, you don’t spend the money on upkeep that you usually spend.”

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Yellow Springs News.