Page 16 - KMA Ag Mag 2020

KMAland 2020
16 Overcoming Current Challenges in the Ag Community

and managed by absentees close we travel further for farm remain so. There are lots of
create friction with long-time inputs and shopping. Clo- sources of financing today.
residents and especially with sures of local factories limit The banking industry is
former city dwellers moving off-farm jobs for additional quite healthy. Today’s ag lend-
to the country hoping for se- family income. Consolidation ers are more educated, ana-
renity and clear air. These of schools and churches extin- lytical and able to navigate
newcomers are also bothered guish institutions we have en- today’s financial landscape to
by noise, dust, late night field- joyed and supported for sev- help their customers. We have

work and equipment on roads. eral generations. The sense of many risk management tools
Larger issues such as global community is lost. not available even a few years
warming and water pollution As always, there are bright ago – commodity contracts
can impact locally, such as the spots as well. Trade tensions and options, crop insurance,
fertilizer runoff litigation on are easing with China. Japan is forward contracting, etc.
the Des Moines River. again buying our beef and this Our biggest asset in agricul-
Loss of rural and small town is a growing market. Farming ture – our resilient resourceful
populations also affects ag- takes a lot of capital, but inter- people, many of whom are
riculture. When businesses est rates are low and look to multi-generational survivors