From Capitol News Illinois
Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville, a farmer himself who raises about 1,000 acres of soybeans every year, noted that farmers follow price signals.
“We are very conservative, and we do everything the same,” Meier said. “But at the same time, we must be able to change everything in a drop of a second, and we will go wherever the markets are.”
For Illinois farmers, the math is brutal. Food-grade soybeans require older genetics that yield 10 to 15 fewer bushels per acre.
“When we’re planting a crop here, we’re trying to decide which crop we’re going to lose the least money on,” said Meier.
For him, farming is more than a business. “The farm is a member of the family. It’s been here for generations.”
He emphasized that farming practices have improved dramatically, but the economic pressure remains. Until food-grade prices rise significantly, most farmers will stick with commodity soybeans.
Read the full article here.