Farming the Countryside with Andrew McCrea

Crop margins have remained tight, with surging input prices putting pressure on the opportunity to find profits. However, could a corn price surge be on the horizon? Here’s what the fundamentals tell us for the later half of this year and how we can best plan for marketing the crop.

Ron Rabou is experiencing a generational drought that has many farms struggling to survive. He talks about the measures he and others are taking to make it through a very difficult year, plus we hear about his upcoming adventure where he must survive in proximity to polar bears!

It’s important to make every crop as effective as possible in order to maximize your return. This week we look at ways to increase soybean bushels and some of the ideas won’t cost you any money!

It’s been 45 years since the events in a small town that precipitated the New York Time’s bestseller, “In Broad Daylight.” This week I interview the author of that book, a man who continues to travel to the town of Skidmore, Missouri to visit with friends about an event that still intrigues the nation. 

As we celebrate 250 years of American independence we take a look at a couple of interviews that share some of the often overlooked stories of the birth of the nation. These are stories you may have never heard, yet ones important to the freedom we have today. 

Depending on where you live, the best price you may have been able to get to forward contract this year’s corn crop for harvest delivery is about $4. Is that as good as it will get? Is it a similar story for soybeans? Cattle have been profitable, but is it a trend that lasts through 2026 and beyond? 

The New World Screwworm has now entered the United States. So what is this worm and what can it do to a cattle herd. We discuss the impacts, plus I have a special interview about a project from a century ago that greatly impacted some of the most isolated parts of farm country.

Tight crop margins have many of us searching for the best ways to pencil a profit. This week we take a look at three areas producers can better manage to maximize profits. Learn to use improved marketing, crop insurance strategies and farm programs to help your operation stay in the black. 

Recent court rulings will have an impact on who farmers can hire and what wages they will earn. We visit with Ray Starling for an update on this ruling as well as other legal updates of interest in the ag industry.

2025 was a very profitable year for many cattle producers. Will that trend continue this year? We take a look at the domestic and international trends that are shaping the market and what that means for ranchers this year.

Many of us live and work in and around small towns. We may have concerns about the long term viability of the businesses, schools and homes in those rural communities. How could you invest in those towns, make a positive impact and turn a profit for you and others? Here’s an example.

Much of this year’s corn crop is planted and has emerged. What can we do now to get the most out of this year’s harvest? What are the key items we should be evaluating to make sound agronomic decisions this growing season?

Sales of new machinery have slowed but parts of the machinery market remain strong as farmers invest their dollars in good, used equipment. What parts of the market are the strongest and what are the best buying and selling strategies for 2026?

Many crop farmers have endured at least a couple of years now of tight crop margins that may make it difficult to service operating lines of credit. How are interest payments, carryover loans and negative balance sheets impacting lenders? We talk with a community ag bank about how to handle difficult discussions to keep moving in a positive direction.

I’ll take you to a farm that constantly looks at the diversity of crops and markets to find the best combination to develop and maintain strong revenue streams. It’s a method of farming that led this farmer to be named the Top Producer Woman in Agriculture Award Winer. 

The land market remains strong in most areas with record sales continuing to be reported in some areas of the country. Are higher interest rates likely to have an impact on this trend? How are land rental rates being impacted by tight crop margins? We take a look at the market from a buyers and sellers perspective. 

It’s difficult to pencil a profit on some crop acres this year, but there are profitable margins to be had.  Meet a farmer who shares his tips on keeping things in the black even in lean times to help generate consistent positive returns.

Jason Clay always brings a valuable insight to our conversation with his midwestern farm roots and his global perspective on how agriculture and food. This time he talks about the long term impacts of the conflict in the Middle East and some of the changes he sees for the crops we raise and who buys them. 

Former USDA Secretary Dan Glickman is still very involved in the agriculture industry, working with individuals, businesses and nations around the world. We got his thoughts on the proposed Farm Bill, Food Pyramids and much more that will impact the profitability and future of farming. 

Farming has its risks and some of those risks are unavoidable. How do you decide what level of risk is acceptable in order to make a living and create the best possible future? We visit with a first-generation farmer who is weighing the choices his farm has to support a future generation without risking too much in the present. 

Prospects for profits on this year’s crop could be a challenge. However, Kelly Garrett sees opportunities. Kelly is always looking at the best ways to efficiently produce more bushels and best market was he grows. We take a look at some of the key items he will be implementing this year. 

This family farm has a four month waiting list for its beef. Plus, they have other local producers that have joined their effort to supply their on-farm store that has become quite popular. These Ohio corn and soybean farmers share their personal story that helped make them one of the 2026 Top Producer of the Year finalists.

This week we meet a farmer using a combination of crop techniques to promote better soil health, reduce costs and improve margins. Some of the ideas are time proven methods such as cover crops, but the way this operation seeds those covers and integrates them with livestock provide opportunities to thrive.

This week we visit with a farmer who is the recently retired secretary of agriculture for his thoughts on key trends impacting the ag industry. What are the important market moving factors that will impact farmers of all types? What are the opportunities to change our operations to increase profits and build a sustainable, multigenerational operation?

Tim Nuss is this year’s Top Producer Next Gen Award Winner. He shares his story of coming back into a family operation and finding ways to take advantage of profit centers by identifying new and changing markets that his farm can help supply. He shares some of his top tips that have worked for his operation and lessons we apply in our own business.

Machinery Pete has been logging machinery sale data for over three decades so it’s hard to surprise him with anything that happens in the industry. However, he recently reported a trend that he’s not seen in his lifetime. We discuss how tight crop margins are impacting the new and used machinery market and what to keep in mind when making a trade. 

It may be tempting to try to improve crop margins by cutting your soil fertility program. However, some cost saving measures may wind up hurting ROI in the end. What are the most important decisions to make and how do you allocate your dollars in the best way possible?

Wireless fencing is technology being adopted by some farmers and it could make rotational grazing an option for more people since it lowers the amount labor needed to move electric fences. This week I visit with a farmer who is not only rotationally grazing his cows and calves, but he’s also using it as an opportunity to better utilize crop residue and use some unique intercropping systems in his Illinois corn fields. 

It’s once again time to take a look at the latest Practical Farm Research (PFR) data. The field trials cover just about anything you’d want to know about growing more corn and soybean bushels, plus there were some new items added to this year’s research. We break down the results and what are some proven ways to consistently grow a bigger crop.

Animal agriculture is sometimes the target of activists who want to radically change or even attempt to ban raising animals for food production. What are the latest targets of these groups and how are measures at the ballot box and in the state house seeking to impact the livelihood of farmers and ranchers.

To begin the new year we begin with a fun story that might just inspire you to make your own New Year’s resolution. We meet a father and daughter who accomplished something that it is believed no one else has done. They raced the Cannonball Run coast-to-coast race together. Many of us may only know of the race from the movie in the 1970s. Here’s the story of the race and their cross country trip.

We often think that success in farming is measured by the number of acres we farm or the number of  livestock we raise. That isn’t necessarily wrong, but Josh Payne helps us look at agriculture from a  different perspective, maximizing the profit per acre and creating a multitude of opportunities along the  way. We call it “get big or get weird” and I think you’ll find his version of getting weird in farming isn’t  that unusual and may just fit all of us. 

Cattle producers face many challenges and opportunities. One threat looms just to the south with concerns over a screwworm that is already impacting trade and may impact the health of the herd here. Despite the hurdles, demand remains strong. What are the trends retailers are noticing in that desire for beef?

As we come of the end of the calendar year, some of us may be considering financial decisions that will impact our taxes now and in the future. What are some of the key tax provisions passed this year and how should they influence what we do? How should income losses for crop farmers be evaluated for the most tax savings? 

There’s been plenty of news in the beef sector in the last couple of months with beef prices making news at the White House and across social media and the news media. So when the president speaks verbally or via social media who has his ear? Who is it that is influencing national and international policy when it comes to beef?

On this Thanksgiving weekend we remember the sacrifice of so many veterans who have fought for the freedoms we have today. Guy Gruters was a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War. He was shot down twice, and the second such incident resulted in him being held as a POW for over five years. He shares the challenges and eventual triumph of the grueling imprisonment. 

Amy France farms in western Kansas. As the chair of the National Sorghum Producers Association she is in touch with many farmers across the nation and travels internationally to work on behalf of producers. Sorghum may be an overlooked opportunity on some farms, but with changing demands from domestic consumers and international buyers, there are reasons to consider the crop. 

Many farm families consider having an off farm job simply for the health insurance. Finding good and affordable coverage can be a challenge. Many rural hospitals find it challenging to keep the doors open. What are the answers for individuals and rural communities when it comes to health care?

We are always looking for ways to grow more bushels for no extra cost. What ways could we best do this? We take a look at some basic principles that we should probably review in order to get the best yield possible. 

Sixty years ago this month the Future Farmers of America merged with a group called the New Farmers of America. The story of both groups and their eventual coming together is an interesting look back at farming and the educational system at the time. It’s important history that should not be forgotten.

There is plenty of talk about the impact of tariffs on ag trade. However, will those tariffs stand an upcoming Supreme Court test? What other legal issues are facing agriculture? We take a look at some of important cases and what they may mean for us.

The government shutdown and a trade war with China capture most of the headlines right now in the grain markets. How are those issues impacting grain prices now and in the long term? What is the outlook for a roaring cattle market? Brian Grete provides his insights on the markets. 

Crop margins are tight or nonexistent for next year. Is there a strategy for purchasing the inputs you need? What are the factors driving higher costs and could those change over the coming months? We look at tips and tools to evaluate heling all of us make the most of some lean times in crop production.

Ranching in Australia can be a very isolated experience. Andrew Copping knows what it’s like to work on million-acre ranches, or stations as they’re known, in the land down under. Today he works with many people in the U.S, Australia and beyond through the company he began to help address common issues that farmers and ranchers face. His insights not only address challenges we face now but provide a roadmap for other agricultural startup businesses.

Buying, selling, trading and the like are a part of life and a part of business. How do you become a better negotiator and work to help both parties in the process? We take a look at some of the keys from an expert in the field. 

This year saw heavy disease pressure for many corn and soybean growers. This farmer used very little fungicide, and his yields are some of the best in his area. How does he do it? We’ll discuss that, plus how you can sell high quality grain for a premium via the beef market. 

How can ranchers shorten the distance from the farm to the consumer and get more of every dollar of beef sold? These cattlemen in Nebraska have opened their own processing plant and are selling beef to America’s largest retailer. Their work may produce ideas all of us could implement.

The ProFarmer crop tour has concluded, and the results show the potential for a big crop. So just how big might this crop be and what it the potential impact on the markets? Lane Akre provides his analysis of the data and we look at possible marketing opportunities in a market with very thin margins. 

We’ve now had a month to let the dust settle from the One Big Bill. What are some of the key parts of the legislation for the ag economy? One provision is something called “ACRE.” That section of the bill along with some other ag centric items are important for people to understand. We discuss those items along with a possible farm bill debate yet this year. 

Most of us don’t think much about the work we do on the farm being considered an attraction.  It’s just what we do as part of our career.  But some of what we do might be a novel and fun thing for others to experience.  I’ll take you to a farm that still harvests corn and soybeans, but also has a crop of visitors year round to experience all it has to offer.