There is more crop marketing ahead of the game. Root is seeing more marketing strategy through forward pricing, options, etc. There are fewer buyers in the industry as well. In Freeborn County, as in many other places, local elevators are consolidating. Competitiveness is gone.
Root is confident in Freeborn County's producers and their ability to persevere.
We have some very influential producers in our county that are willing to try new things. He added that in the last 10 years he has seen the average producer become more efficient - conscious of inputs and increasing yields. These producers, Root said, need a good price for their crop in order for the county's agriculture to sustain and thrive. These guys can only take producing a crop at a loss for so long. It may take more than a good price, however, to give agriculture the credit it deserves.