Cold Spring Weather Causing Issues For Farmers

Unusually-cold spring weather is causing new concerns for Iowa’s delayed planting season; the 2012 drought depleted the nation’s reserves making this year’s crop a crucial one for global market exports, biofuel production and livestock farmers, according to the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF).

“The nation’s farmers, biofuels makers and grain exporters will all be affected if another crop falls short of expectation,” says IFBF economist Dave Miller. “But, if the weather turns around and our record corn and soybean acres see record yields, that would likely swamp grain markets and drive down prices for crop farmers; we’re in an unusually crucial situation this year.”

Miller added, “Are we standing on the edge of a cliff? With another short crop, we can’t adjust exports down much further… therefore, where would the next adjustment come from? We saw the first contraction in biofuels production in seven years, because of last year’s drought. Exports have also been a point of adjustment in past major crop shortfalls; all these things send ripple effects through our entire industry and that means consumers could feel it, too.”