Widespread Wetness, Stormy Markets Weigh on Farmers

This spring is delivering a grim message to many farmers this year. "It seems like both the weather and the markets are telling us not to plant any of the big three cash crops this year," said Dan Petker, a farmer from Ontario, Canada. "Personally, if it stops raining today, we'd still be waiting at least 10 days before we could get started with planting. Ontario doesn't have a prevent plant program like [the U.S.], so a crop will most likely be planted; be it a profitable one or not."In this week's Field Roundup, a group of farmers and ranchers from across the farm belt weighed in on the spring's many challenges so far, from persistent wet and cold conditions to volatile commodity markets.