‘It’s really hard to plan’: Nebraska farmers feeling the squeeze from low crop prices

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported a record yield for soybeans and high production of corn this year.

That high supply means farmers are getting low prices for their crops.

And according to the National Corn Growers Association, that comes on top of high production costs.

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Farming is a way of life in Nebraska, but for some farmers, it’s also been a struggle.

“A lot of what we do year to year, we don’t ever know how we’re going to end up,” said fifth-generation farmer Paula Peterson of Waverly.

Right now, corn is selling for about $4 a bushel.

Many farmers said that’s about how much it takes to break even.

SEE ALSO: Nebraska GDP shrinks 6% as farmers face high costs and low commodity prices

So they’re making tough decisions, scaling back where they can to keep operations running.

“I look at different approaches to see where we can save money where we can but not cut corners so that we’re hurting our crop,” Peterson said. “It’s really hard to plan.”

But it’s not just about this year’s profit.

Peterson said most farmers worry about the future regardless of having a good or bad harvest.

“We’re trying to balance everything that we can with the cards we are given,” she said.

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Agriculture makes up more than a quarter of Nebraska’s economy, meaning when farmers feel the pinch, the whole state does, too.

“We’re here generation after generation doing what we love because we feel like it is a critical part of our society,” Peterson said.