Bickle Farm Solutions

Soy acres are expected to dip this year, while corn planting could see a boost.

U.S. farmers are making strategic decisions this spring as they weigh market conditions, input costs, and weather outlooks. What do these shifts mean for your operation—and your insurance coverage?

U.S. farmers expect to plant more corn and less soybean acres | AGDAILY U.S. farmers plan to plant 95.3 million acres of corn in 2025, up 5 percent from last year, while soybean acreage is set to decline 4 percent.

$10 million in state drought funding is available.

If you are a livestock producer in one of the 28 counties designated as a primary natural disaster area and enrolled in the USDA FSA Livestock Forage Disaster Program, please reach out to your local SWCD where your operation is located to get signed up.

https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/administration/resources/2024-Ohio-Drought

🌱 The 2024 harvest season in Ohio has been a challenging one. Yields were average at best, and many farms saw well-below-average production. On top of that, commodity prices at harvest didn’t meet expectations, and poor grain quality added to the financial strain—leaving many farmers operating dangerously close to the bottom line for the 2025 crop.

With quality concerns during harvest, more farmers than usual opted to deliver grain straight to the elevator, even if they had on-farm storage. Unfortunately, this meant some may have missed out on the recent commodity market rally.

Cash flow shifts also impacted end-of-year decisions, potentially limiting opportunities for pre-pay discounts on inputs. Now, with input costs rising, many are reevaluating their crop rotations—could we see a shift toward more soybeans instead of the higher investment needed for corn?

For some, the contrast from 2023 to 2024 has been stark. After coming off one of their best years, they are now facing one of their worst. Many are still waiting on crop insurance adjusters to determine just how their 2024 season truly ended.

🚜 How is your operation planning for 2025?

Drop a comment below or reach out—we’re here to help navigate these uncertain times.

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We couldn’t be prouder of our own Michael Sweeney! Last night, Michael was invited to speak at the Licking County Professional Agrarian Club, where he shared his insights on crop insurance. Because of his deep knowledge and hands-on experience, he was a great representative of Bickle Insurance/Bickle Farm Solutions.

His commitment to his work and community truly shows, and we’re lucky to have him on our team.

Thanks for being an incredible ambassador for BFS! 👏🌱

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