Producers Welcome Local Prices 20 cents To $1 Higher Than Six Months Ago
By Theresa Seiler
Farm life is a continuous cycle of beginnings and endings, with a lot of work in between. On our Kansas farm, we started planting corn a few days earlier than normal this year due to the weather forecast and changes on our operation.
There is much work to be done between now and harvest. Input costs are on the rise, and unpredictable weather patterns could play an outsized role in the final results. We will continue looking for ways to be as efficient as possible.
My main job is to market our grain. Local prices are currently $0.20 to $1 higher (depending on the grain) than they were six months ago. That makes me optimistic. As always, make incremental offers with your buyers, so they can be filled while you do other work.
Speaking of beginnings, the grain department is pleased to announce that Melany Thomas has joined our team of organic marketers. Melany is a certified organic producer serving both direct-to-consumer and whole-sale markets. She holds a B.S. in Animal Science with an emphasis in Agribusiness.
Beyond her agricultural and leadership roles, Melany serves as a Soldier & Family Readiness Group Coordinator. She is also a mentor with Transitioning to Organic Partnership Program. Thomas is a mom of two and is supported at home by her husband, who good-naturedly serves as the farm hand when needed.
While we celebrate new additions to the team, we also recognize recent loss. Convene 2026 dealt us a few challenges with winter weather and travel issues, but the grain department was missing a key member of our team. Harold Walker was absent and has since passed away. Harold greatly loved his family, farming, and National Farmers and remained dedicated to all three until the very end.
Aaron Johnson, Madison, South Dakota, is the newest National Farmers director and now serves as an advisor to the department. He is now a participant on our daily grain division telephone calls where we talk about the latest marketing moves for our producers.
