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Minnesota Farm Mediation notices triple in August, highest since 2019

The number of Minnesota farmers facing mediation because of financial crisis has risen dramatically.

Minnesota Department of Agriculture Farm Advocate Steve Zenk says there were 144 notices issued in August, which is three times higher than August 2024 and the highest total since 2019.

“We’re seeing right now people that are going to have difficulty paying back their operating loans this fall. With the lower grain prices, and all the inputs have continued to go up, so at the end of the year there might not be enough money to go around to get everybody paid.”

He tells Brownfield farmers only have 10 days to respond once given notice of mediation.

“If you don’t do it during that time, you’re waving your right to mediation and telling the lender to go ahead and do whatever you want to do.”

Zenk says that could mean surrendering assets like machinery or having real estate foreclosed on.

To learn more about farmer mediation, go to www.mnfarmstress.com or call 833 600-2670.