William and I were talking about markets the other day. By this I mean grain markets.
Farmtress Flossy's Potato Harvest 2024
A farmer down the road who is also growing sunflowers contacted us to find out if we might want to buy his crop as he cannot find a market to sell his sunflowers this year. Around the same time, William had just found a market willing to take his rye. He was thrilled because some years he can't find a buyer.
You see, farmers around here grow corn and soybeans because there is a guaranteed and established market for these two grains...and pretty much only these two grains. Once the crop is ready to harvest the farmer simply calls their trucking company who sends a truck to the field, they unload the combine and/or cart into the truck, the trucker takes the load to Red Wing Grain and the farmer receives a check within a couple of days. Load after load they send their grain to the markets in the Fall and get paid as long as the moisture content is just right and there aren't bugs in the crop. Some farmers put their harvest in their own grain bins to sell later because prices on corn and soybeans fluctuate with the market. Farmers can choose to sell and take the price they are paid on harvest day, but they can also "call in a contract" meaning they can lock in at a future price. William does this occasionally, but claims that every time he calls in a contract prices go up! This year grain prices are so low that maybe he will contract just to get the market to a more favorable position!
As I mentioned, the established grain markets in our area work mainly in corn and soybeans. If farmers want to try growing other crops - say flax, rye or sunflowers - they'll have trouble finding a market for their crops. Farmers like William would like to diversify their farms, try new growing techniques and crops, but it's just not easy or affordable enough. This is part of the reason why we set up the Farm Store. Through that aspect of the business, we can direct market some of our products. But, sheesh, it would sure be easier if we could get paid for a semi load of sunflower seeds instead of hand bagging them and selling as birdseed or animal feed. But, farmers know easier isn't always better. Easy is why most of America's farmland is in corn and soybeans right now. These are easy crops to grow and easy crops to market. And, when most farmers have to have off-farm jobs in order to farm, running these two crops means they can take their vacation days in the Spring to plant and in the Fall to harvest.
The other interesting thing to ask about the WHY of corn and soybeans is WHO DO THESE CROPS FEED? We don't eat field corn and soybeans for dinner do we? We sure do. You see, corn and soybeans are processed and refined into other products. You've probably heard of high-fructose corn syrup, soybean oil, or corn meal. Corn and soybeans are pressed for their oils, turned into animal feed and often used as cheap fillers in packaged foods and snacks. These two crops show up in MOST of our processed foods offering an inexpensive filler, boost of protein or oil.
Those of us who prefer to eat whole foods that nourish the body look out over these fields wishing it could be different, because we can see that a diet high in corn and soybeans is part of the problem of the obesity epidemic that is spreading across the globe.
The SUNFLOWERS are done on our farm drying and bowing their heads so the birds can't take all of the seed. Those flocks of tweeters will likely get half the crop before it is dry enough to harvest.
FARM STORE NEWS
Cowboy Candy is back as the hot peppers are rolling in from the greenhouse! There are lots of fall fruit jams, soups, sunflower seeds to fill your bird feeders, and other farm treats! Remember we're open DAILY 9-6. We run the store SELF-SERVE. Look for the RED CASH BOX to pay or use the VENMO QR Code in the store.
Thank you to all of you who help support this alternative style of MARKET. We appreciate your business and are grateful to each and everyone of you for choosing us.
Sending love from the farm,
Sarah
Loved this explanation, and yes thank you for trying to make a change.
Sara, what an excellent and understanding description of the farming markets in our area. Thank you. And thank you for what you and William are doing to diversify your farm and make your products available to us.