Uncertainty constant for farmers

Janelle Atyeo
Mar 12, 2025
Mar 12, 2025

1 of 2

Cole Olson signs his name in support of ethanol in the National Corn Growers Association booth at the Commodity Classic trade show in Denver March 3.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

Mike McCranie, third from right, is a South Dakota soybean farmer and secretary of the South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council. He was in India as part of a trade mission organized by the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council, designed to build relationships to bolster exports of U.S. poultry.

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Janelle Atyeo

Farmers face uncertainty every time they put a seed in the ground. They don’t know if the season ahead will bring enough warmth, water and nutrients for the plant to flourish. They don’t know if extreme weather, pests or disease will hamper yields. And they can’t be sure what price the markets will offer when it comes time to harvest.

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CC Uncertainty 2.jpg — Comstock Investments President Matthew Kruse talks to farmers about market conditions during a session March 3 at Commodity Classic in Denver.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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CC Uncertainty 3.jpg — Reuters market columnist Karen Braun discusses Brazil’s place in the export market during a panel March 3 at Commodity Classic in Denver.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Potash mining — Potash is mined at an underground mine in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
U.S. Geological Survey

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Janelle Atyeo is a small town South Dakota girl enjoying her work as regional editor of the Midwest Messenger and Tri-State Neighbor while raising kids and no-till vegetables in central Sioux Falls. Reach her at janelle.atyeo@lee.net.