View from the Cab: Brrr!

By Kent Casson

As of this writing, plenty of cold weather songs come to mind like “Baby It’s Cold Outside” or even “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.”

It’s only mid-December and winter has officially arrived in Central Illinois with plenty of snowfall in recent weeks and bone chilling temperatures. Many can’t recall a recent winter with such harsh weather so early in the season. I do remember a snowstorm around Thanksgiving in 2004 but that may have been the last time we had such a big early snow.

Though we had an extended fall for most farmers to finish their fieldwork, that window suddenly came to a halt when the wintry weather set in. The first half of November was great for producers to finish applying their anhydrous ammonia or wrap-up that fall tillage out in the field.

Even when the weather outside is frightful, I find myself busier than when it is nice! Desk work seems to never end and radio work goes 24/7, 365 days a year. Throw in several ballgames per week to broadcast, and you have a full schedule.

I had been putting off my end of the year financial appointment as my book work wasn’t quite caught up from summer and fall. I finally forced myself to sit down at the desk and enter my deposits and expenses to get a handle on how things are financially. I’m proud to say the appointment is behind me and I think I have a handle on 2025, now we shall see what 2026 brings.

We need to ask Santa for at least $5 corn and $10 beans for this next year but let’s hope those are low price targets and that we keep climbing from here. I can’t imagine farm equipment sales picking up anytime soon or producers purchasing the biggest and best pickup truck until we see more of a price correction.

Economists are saying 2026 could be tougher than several of the past years for farmers. It will be time to sharpen those pencils and figure out a way to make more income when raising crops poses a challenge to break even, let alone make a profit these days.

Sounds like the markets could stay relatively calm in the next two weeks which is typical as we go into the holiday period and year end. While the December crop report didn’t have much to tell us, one can’t help but wonder what kind of information will come out in January.