We do the banking and they do the producing, but their debt to asset ratios are still higher than we need. Most have four or five commercial loans. His bank asks for a management plan each time farmers come in for a crop loan. The university should offer advice on things like Bt cotton, how many fewer sprayings are needed. We've got to sell the compromise.
Farmers are the ultimate environmentalists.
Farmers are good at making a crop, they just don't know when to sell it. We need to get farm policy in place where you can make a long-range plan. We have to have a new Farm Bill. Farm planning and diversification are key, as farmers are doing whatever they can to make their farm work, even relying on off-farm income. Farmers face three risk areas.