Farm Horizons Farm Horizons 2/16 | Page 23

Farm Horizons • Feb. 8, 2016 continuing that trend. Some people would argue it has accelerated it.” While yields have increased, exports have slowed, due in part to the strong US dollar, Usset noted. Looking forward, Usset said he feels “relatively good” about the soybean market. “As long as the middle class in developing countries continues to grow, that speaks well for more protein in diets and good numbers for soybeans,” Usset said. If higher blends of ethanol are approved for fuel, the demand for corn will grow as well. In the meantime, low corn and soybean prices are having a ripple effect on the state, especially in the out state areas. “The fact is from 2008 to 2013 and even 2014, farm incomes were up and it was a nice counterbalance for states like Minnesota because the out state area was doing well,” Usset said. “That helped buoy the out state economy. That’s not happening right now. The domino effect is less money flowing through small towns.” Farmers will have difficult decisions to make come planting season. “The price of corn is about $3.30 and the average farmer probably has close to $4 per bushel into that corn,” Usset said. “The big question today on farmers’ minds is you start looking ahead to planting season and asking what to plant. The choices are not good.” Picking the right one is kind of like flipping a coin, Usset said. He believes there may be a modest move • Page 23 away from soybeans and toward corn. He noted that Minnesota’s saving grace has been a booming crop. “The one thing you don’t want to be in a record production year is the region that didn’t get a good crop,” Usset said. “That describes the eastern corn belt. They got the worst of both worlds. We had poor prices, but at least we had the production, and that will be a saving grace for Minnesota.” n Gabe Licht, Delano Herald Journal editor, can be reached at [email protected] LIVESTOCK TRAILERS Deluxe II Trailers All Aluminum “Top of Our Line” The “beefiest” all alum stock trailer in the industry featrures a square tube rear frame. 4” x 4” exclusive and extruded aluminum planking floors and sides. Many other Kiefer Built stock trailer models available THURK BROS 3932 Main St., St. Bonifacius, MN 55375 • [phone] • 800-645-9685 Franchised Kiefer Built Dealer for over 30 Years HORSTMAN’S WOODWORK LLC – OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE – • FRAMING • POST FRAMING • REMODELING • BASEMENT FINISHING • DECKS • TRIMWORK Kevin Horstman Office: [phone] Cell: [phone] Lic#20636460