Commentary
Because innovation often lurks on what people call the lunatic fringe, one of the best ways to learn what works when things aren’t working is to study people and protocols that do.
With nearly half of America’s public school children below par in reading and math, the schools above that average could offer substantial instruction, don’t you think? This holds true in any area of life and underpins a meritocratic philosophy.
We all know that we learn from our failures, but we also know that studying exceptional performance is the way forward. Nobody is interested in the B team’s techniques; we want to know what makes an A team an A team.
In my vocation of agriculture, we’re seeing a lot of ink devoted to a “farming is in the doldrums” narrative. I do many, many podcasts, and invariably “what’s wrong with farming and how do we get out of it” tops the interview agenda.
The farming storm is indeed apparent, and the problem list occupies countless media headlines.
America’s beef herd is at its lowest level in 75 years.
Soybean farmers lost an average of $100 per acre in 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. President Donald Trump gave them a $12 billion bailout, although many sources now say some of that money won’t be available until late 2027.
In 2026, corn farmers are not expected to break even because of fertilizer costs.
Diesel fuel is up by 61 percent since January. Energy makes up a significant portion of farmers’ costs, and much of that is diesel fuel.
Some 70 percent of farmers say they can’t afford to buy all the fertilizer they need.
Farm bankruptcies hit a six-year high in April. Many pundits predict a return to the massive bankruptcies experienced in the early 1980s, when farmer suicide hotlines became common. Farm doldrums seem to be the narrative of the day.
All this prompts me to look for farms that are thriving. Who are they? What are they doing?
At our farm in August, in the midst of all this negativity, we hosted the Stockman Grass Farmer “Launching Young Farmers” summit. We enjoyed hearing from eight bootstrap farmers who started from nothing at 20 years old and are now farming full time by the time they’re 40.
Here are the commonalities from these first-person testimonials; they are consistent with my own farming experience.
No Chemicals
To the person, they eschew all the things conventional modern agriculture assumes are necessary for production and profit. That includes Trump’s national security-designated glyphosate. No, it is definitely not necessary for our nation’s survival; it is also not necessary for farm survival.
Non-Farmer Relationships
Most farmers are almost fraternity-oriented in their circle of acquaintances. In fact, too many farmers dislike urban folks, viewing them as some sort of enemy. But these young, flourishing, and enthusiastic farmers sought out non-farmer and urban relationships, leveraging a broad range of talents to grow their businesses.
Unconventional Marketing
Most engaged primarily in direct marketing, creating a personal brand and selling directly to retail customers and some wholesale accounts. If that was not the case, sales were into the organic space. None sold into conventional commodity platforms.
Land Ownership Secondary
They all focused on building a business rather than taking on an expensive land mortgage. With portable infrastructure and a retail clientele, the farm can move around to take advantage of unowned property opportunities.
Roughly half of all American farmland is leased; if a farmer can figure out how to generate more income from an acre by stacking complementary enterprises, adding value, and marketing directly, suddenly he can successfully compete for acreage through leasing.
Patience
None of them became frustrated with the speed of their development. Most worked for others, took off-farm jobs, changed location, and created side hustles to slowly move toward a full-time income.
The turtle won the race, not the rabbit. Progressing gently, keeping debt low, and letting time be a friend rather than an enemy led to success.
No Government Programs
They did not seek grants, subsidies, or government expertise. Each found mentors completely outside government agencies and, to a large degree, did the exact opposite of what credentialed mainstream professionals advised them to do.
They did not spend time in government offices or talking with bureaucrats. They simply charted their own course based on alternative information.
None Grew Crops Involved in USDA Crop Insurance
Largely in pastured livestock or some sort of grass-based endeavor, their outfits had no safety nets. None had financial backing, which made them hungry young farmers. Hunger stimulates creativity.
But along the way, none wished for government input or involvement. Each figured it out based on their alternative thinking and information base.
Roughly half of all U.S. soybeans are exported and not even used domestically. Nearly half of all corn goes to ethanol. Alfalfa is exported to Japan and Saudi Arabia.
Large sectors of American agriculture are not in the food business or domestic supply business. The ugly truth is we don’t need half the stuff that subsidies and crop insurance incentivize. Those sectors are largely in the doldrums.
American agriculture enjoys many exceptional farms. They offer, in total, large contributions to food security and ecologically stimulating land stewardship. Listening to their stories provides hope and inspiration, a true antidote for farming doldrums.
Most farm conventions have a cloud of frustration, disappointment, and even worry hanging over the speakers and attendees. It doesn’t have to be that way. It shouldn’t be that way. Finding exceptions to the negativity is the first step in discovering policies and protocols that lead to farming’s promised land.
Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
