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THE COST OF FARMING<br />
Years when corn and<br />
soybean prices are strong are<br />
usually a bad year for livestock<br />
farmers, he noted.<br />
“At some point livestock<br />
prices should follow the grain<br />
market going up, but it’s typically<br />
going to follow a year<br />
or two later. You’re going to<br />
have to pay those high prices<br />
(for feed) for a while before<br />
you really see that catch up,”<br />
he said.<br />
Marshall said he views<br />
things from two levels. In the<br />
short run, cash income must<br />
be sufficient to pay operating<br />
costs for such things as seed,<br />
fertilizer, chemicals, insurance,<br />
cash rent, and hired<br />
labor, as well as machinery<br />
fuel and repairs, and interest<br />
on operating capital. In the<br />
long run, income should ideally<br />
be sufficient to allow for<br />
investment into growth and<br />
EASTERN IOWA FARMER PHOTO / BROOKE TILL<br />
Marshall raises hogs and cattle, in addition to having a hay business.<br />
While he doesn’t grow corn or soybeans currently, he feels the impact<br />
of the market conditions that those producers feel.<br />
expansion of the business.<br />
“It’s not always fun,” he<br />
said of the planning and the<br />
accompanying market uncertainties,<br />
“but it’s part of it. It’s<br />
normal to me anymore.”<br />
As Americans adjust to rising<br />
costs driven by food and<br />
energy prices, ag producers<br />
feel the pinch.<br />
“Agriculture has not been<br />
immune to inflationary pressures,<br />
and, in fact, has faced<br />
more significant price increases<br />
than the general economy,”<br />
noted a report released earlier<br />
this year by six Iowa State<br />
University economists.<br />
“The price increases have<br />
boosted farm revenues, with<br />
crop prices leading the charge,<br />
but have also added to farm<br />
costs, with feed, seed, labor<br />
and land expenses growing,”<br />
it added.<br />
But Marshall and others<br />
say they will move forward<br />
by continuing to make solid<br />
strategic decisions and understanding<br />
what they can’t<br />
control.<br />
“I’m definitely a roll with<br />
the punches kind of guy. It’s<br />
going to be whatever it’s<br />
going to be,” he said. n<br />
Matt McGuire<br />
Experienced.<br />
Committed.<br />
Community minded<br />
Brandon Meyer<br />
Steve Bradley’s dedication to the<br />
American farmer is unparrelled.<br />
He has sponsored many bills as<br />
a member of a Iowa Legislative<br />
Committees of Economic Growth<br />
and Natural Resources that help to<br />
assure the Iowa farm is well taken<br />
care of in the future!<br />
PAID FOR BY COMMITTEE TO ELECT BRADLEY FOR IOWA HOUSE<br />
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800.262.3141<br />
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Clinton | DeWitt | Eldridge | Goose Lake | LeClaire<br />
Kathy Sellnau<br />
Tyler Vandendooren<br />
Scott Wiley<br />
eifarmer.com FALL 2022 | EASTERN IOWA FARMER 57
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