Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says 2016 could be another tough year for North Dakota farmers.
Goehring says there’s a lot of "consternation" among farmers about what crops to plant.
"They don't seem to show 'breaking even' on anything, it seems like," Goehring said.
Goehring says farmers also want to see some input and land costs come down.
"Seed, fertilizer and land rents have been the biggest things," Goehring said.
Goehring says farmers need a “re-balancing” on some of those costs. And he says the other big factor is weather.
"At least, if we get some warm, spring rains as we move forward, maybe in a month or so, I think that will start to relieve some of the tension and anixety," Goehring said. "But there is concern."
Goehring also said bankers are also concerned about some of their farm borrowers.
"Banks are scrutinizing these balance sheets very hard, as well as planting intentions and cash-flow statements," Goehring said. "There's a lot of things up in the air. And a lot of our financial institutions are going to have bank examiners and auditors going through their books and loan portfolios. They're concerned about how this looks. And they're having to ask some tough questions, and ask some people to make hard decisions."
Goehring said bankers are still willing to work with farm borrowers -- if they can.
