Farming can be challenging but also so important

By DEWEY TERRILL
JC Post

Farming can be a risky business.

Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte reported this week that the Kansas Farm Management Association works with more than 3,000 farms across the state. In 2017 60% of those farms didn’t make enough money to pay their family living expenses for a family of four, or in the $60,000 to $65,000 range.

Otte noted in 2017 and 2018 political changes including discussion of tariffs with China and in 2018 in Geary County a drought were factors that helped drop commodity prices. “Somewhere in the United States in any given year part of the production area is having a drought and part of it is having perfect conditions. ” It kind of hurt this year ( 2018 ) just went from drought to almost flood conditions, so there were some quality issues with the soybeans, didn’t come in time for the corn. There’s always something as they used to say.”

Otte added production of farm commodities in South America is up where there is extensive land for production. Also land prices in the Kansas fell by 31 percent from 2014 to 2017. Changes in genetics, however have helped allow soybeans and corn to be grown farther west in the state. Wheat used to be the number one crop in acres planted in Geary County but now has often dropped to number two or three, behind soybeans and corn.

For livestock the Extension Agent said 30 years ago there were a lot of hog and cattle producers in Geary county but the hog industry is now concentrated in super-large producers. There is basically one hog producer left in the county and one dairy producer. With more farms not having livestock that has made it tougher, WIth the drought last year it was also a rough year for livestock producers up until August.

Otte says we are eating less, and the consumer is eating more chicken, pork has not fallen off as much, and beef goes in cycles. “Our tastes are changing. Interestingly the big market right now is China because those people are starting to get a taste for red meat. They want the pork, they want the beef. So they want soybeans to feed them, they want corn to feed them.”

Otte stated farming is a tough business and it is hard work. “It is a huge part of the Kansas economy. If you combine crops and livestock it’s anywhere from $1.5 to $2.5 billion dollars per year. Basically the number two industry in Geary County is still agriculture. It’s kind of the invisible industry but it’s there and it’s important.”