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Input costs + tariffs = breakeven?

The Michigan Corn Growers Association president says tariffs only exacerbate the high cost of inputs farmers are facing.

John Delmotte tells Brownfield input costs have not declined alongside commodity markets for the past several years, and budgets can’t absorb extra duties.

“We’ve got input prices that are too high, and now we’re we have the potential to add more cost to that,” he says. “That’s obviously not something that the farm economy at this point in the game is really poised to be able to do.”

Delmotte says options for cutting expenses are limited.

“It makes guys reevaluate whether or not they’re willing to take a risk on a new product or idea, just because right now it’s kind of survival mode,” he shares. “

He says this season’s strategy for many growers is to simply break even.

Delmotte says he’d like to see more growers work with lawmakers to protect market access and increase support for domestic uses of U.S. commodities.