Headwinds Outpacing Gains in 2025 for Wisconsin Farmers

By Bradley Uken, Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Chief Administrative Officer

Wisconsin farmers have had some wins in 2025 but the broader picture has us falling further behind. Excess grain supplies and lower crop prices, rising input costs, elevated borrowing costs and federal policy changes that will reshape payments, disaster assistance and insurance options are major challenges to profitability and farmers’ peace of mind.

On the national level the One Big Beautiful Bill passed midyear and included the majority of what has historically been included in a farm bill.  While farmers have things to be thankful for at the state-level, such as a farmer-friendly state budget, the marketplace has farmers facing a unique set of pressures.

After a farm bill failed to materialize again last year, passage of the OBBB included some welcomed updates to reference prices and milk and livestock programs. More than 80% of dairy farmers participate annually in the Dairy Margin Coverage program.  Changes in the bill increased eligibility to 6 million pounds of milk, which allows farmers to use their highest production history from 2021 to 2023, and offers a 25% discount for long-term program commitments. This is a win for dairy farmers.

The bill established a biannual cost survey for cheese processors, a long-overdue step toward improving transparency in dairy pricing. This survey is especially important for dairy farmers, as it will help determine the make allowance—the amount deducted from farmers’ milk checks to cover processor costs.

The bill also increased reference prices, with soybeans rising to $10.00 per bushel and corn to $4.10. These price adjustments help farmers better weather volatile markets and high input costs.

Unfortunately, volatility and high input costs are what we continue to see in the farm economy. Increasing input costs, especially fertilizer, drove up the price of growing crops and market access losses internationally combined with ongoing high volumes of existing holdover stocks have kept prices low to the point that it is now expected farmers will lose over $15 billion selling the corn they grew this year. Worse yet, this is part of a growing trend not just for corn but for all major crops which have a combined $54 billion loss over the past three years.

This ongoing trend requires an all-hands-on-deck approach to right the ship. In the short term we need our friends in Washington to provide additional financial support to avoid the accelerated loss of farms in Wisconsin and throughout the country. We’ve just finished harvest season but spring planting is only a few short months away and farmers need to know they have the resources to  plan for next year’s season.

Just as importantly, we need to stabilize our trading relationships and grow new domestic opportunities and commodity markets. Efforts toward growing our available markets for biofuels and bringing new opportunities like sustainable aviation fuel online are already underway.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau will continue to work with policymakers and our agricultural partners to move our state and our country forward. We all need to work to ensure the legacy we pass down is one of strength and opportunity for the next generation to feed our communities.

Uken is chief administrative officer (CAO) of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is the largest general farm organization in the state and serves as a voice for farmers. WFBF’s mission is to lead the farm and rural community through legislative representation, education, public relations, and leadership.