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Current ag economy provides valuable insight for next generation of farmers

A southwest Indiana farmer says learning to navigate today’s ag climate is crucial to prepare the next generation for future farming challenges.

Mark Seib is currently implementing his farm’s succession plan.  He tells Brownfield it has created a lot of discussions.  “The lack of experience of going through a drought, going through a downward turn in the markets, and whatever you call this with the trade,” he says.  “Have you ever had the perfect storm coming? This is one of the perfect storms.”

Seib says while the current farming environment is challenging, it’s created a bond between generations. “Because they want to hear what we did in the 80s when all the farm sales were going on,” he says.  “And they want to know about what’s going on when the President was here last time with the trade negotiations and everything that happened.”

He says one of the difficult conversations they’ve had this year is deciding how much to invest in a crop that has faced a multitude of challenges, from excessive rain early on that forced multiple replants to the excessively hot and dry conditions during the heart of the growing season.

AUDIO: Mark Seib, Indiana farmer