John Yeley is the seventh generation to run his family's farm in Illinois, which has been in operation since 1852. Yeley has spent 26 years working on the farm and is uncertain about the future for his children in agriculture due to current economic conditions. He stated, "Right now, the way all of this is now, no, I wouldn’t wish it on them." Farmers and agriculture experts report that the farming sector is experiencing a recession, facing record-high diesel prices, trade disputes that limit access to markets, and rising fertilizer costs due to geopolitical conflicts.
Yeley expressed concerns about profitability this season, despite higher prices for corn and soybeans. He noted, "We’re not a big county, but we’ve had three farmers go under this year. I know that’s on the minds of everybody, is it really worth it to keep going on? The stress level is pretty high."
The national average price for diesel has reached approximately $6.53 per gallon, with prices in the Midwest, including Illinois, averaging $6.82. Farmers typically purchase thousands of gallons of diesel annually; Yeley usually buys 8,500 gallons twice a year but has had to buy smaller amounts due to high costs.
Sammy Tookey, a farmer in northern California, is also feeling the impact of rising diesel prices, as well as increased costs for cardboard boxes and fertilizer. He has raised prices but is concerned about losing customers. Tookey plans to continue farming but is uncertain about his long-term future in the industry, especially as he prepares to start a family.
Tookey’s stepfather, George Kibby, who recently retired after 40 years in farming, expressed a bleak outlook on the industry, citing high costs and instability in essential prices. He stated, "Us little farmers don’t have much of a chance. You work so hard not making money."
In addition to rising costs, farmers are facing higher interest rates on loans needed to cover expenses between planting and harvest. Trade disputes, particularly with China, have also affected market access for products like soybeans, leading to concerns about long-term market share loss. Aaron Lehman, president of the Iowa Farmers Union, mentioned that many farms are anticipating losses this year, following a trend of financial difficulties in the previous year.