Planting Hope: Why Spring Still Matters in Tough Times
Spring is here. And even though the challenges across agriculture are real, there’s still something about this season that gives farmers a reason to hope.
For farmers, spring has always meant a fresh start. It’s the time to get back in the field, fire up the equipment, and put seed in the ground. But this year, that hope is tempered by real economic pressures. When the final numbers are in, net farm income is projected to fall $40 billion—or 25.5%—in 2024, according to the USDA’s most recent Farm Sector Income Forecast. That’s the second consecutive year of decline, bringing net farm income back below its 2021 level.
Input costs—especially for fertilizer, seed, fuel, and labor—remain historically high, even as some have moderated from their 2022 peaks. Interest rates are squeezing operating loans, and market prices for major crops are creating tight margins.
Let’s look at the numbers. According to the University of Illinois’ Farmdoc, the latest estimates show:
- Corn break-even is around $5.00 to $5.10/bushel
- Soybeans are between $11.80 to $12.40/bushel
Winter wheat farmers, according to Kansas State University, need about $6.75 to $7.10/bushel to break even.
As of early April 2025, nearby futures are hovering below or just at those levels:
- Corn: ~$4.40/bushel (May 2025 CBOT)
- Soybeans: ~$11.55/bushel
- Wheat (HRW): ~$5.90/bushel
That means many farmers are looking at market prices below break-even—a tough pill to swallow for anyone who earns a living from the land.
And yet, the tractors are starting to roll. Because in agriculture, there’s always that deep-down belief that the upcoming season could be better—that something good can still grow from the ground up. Due to inflexible capital costs for equipment and land, planting is a must, but what to plant remains highly debatable at this point.
It’s a mindset not unlike baseball. Every team starts the season with a clean slate. Last year’s losses don’t matter now. What matters is what’s ahead. You suit up, step up to the plate, and take your swing. That’s the kind of quiet determination you’ll find on every farm right now.
Farmers are adjusting their playbooks to stay in the game. Many are leaning into precision agriculture tools to get more out of every acre—reducing waste and improving efficiency. They’re fine-tuning input timing and application, adding cover crops, rotating to improve soil health, and experimenting with variable-rate technology to stretch their dollars further. All innovation, especially right now, depends of whether there is return on investment.
Other farmers are working closely with lenders and ag advisors to rework budgets, locking in strategies like hedging and crop insurance, or reevaluating risk exposure. It’s not about doing more—it’s about doing it smarter.
This is the kind of mindset that feeds resilience. The economy might not be easy right now, but like a baseball team farmers know how to fight through tough innings. They’ve done it before, and they’ll do it this year too.
At Stratovation Group, we work alongside those who understand that kind of perseverance. We help agricultural organizations, businesses, and farmers develop strategies that work—no matter the challenges on the horizon. Because like you, we believe in the power of positivity about the approaching season.
Spring is still a time to believe. The fields may be muddy, the numbers may be tight—but the work is worth it. Just like baseball, farming is built on battling through the rough spots, teamwork, and the will to keep showing up.
As fans, we applaud our nation’s farmers from the best seats we can afford. And if the other team hits a home run, we’ll chuck that ball right back into the field of play. Right now, it’s all a matter of planning, planting and believing.