Farming in Central Ohio, much like the rest of the traditional corn belt, tends to be a business that’s very even keel. The soil is great and the climate is just about perfect for growing corn, soybeans and wheat. Because of this, bushels per acres are fairly predictable from year to year.
“That whole equation was turned on its head in 2012, which was the worst year that I had ever experienced as a farmer and will be forever seared in the minds of those of us who work the land as the Great Drought of 2012,” said farmer Matthew King. “Thankfully, like me, most farmers here in Central Ohio purchase crop insurance every year.”
King notes that they’ve purchased crop insurance his entire life, as do most farmers he knows. He says folks who are not involved directly in farming don’t understand the enormous economies of scale – the prices of fertilizer, seed, machinery, labor and herbicide – that must be paid by farmers in order to get a crop in the ground.
“You literally have to lay out tens of thousands of dollars and then pray for good weather, and if that all comes together, you’ve got a bountiful harvest and you’re set for the next year,” he explains. “If it doesn’t come together, then hopefully you have crop insurance.”
Read Matt King’s entire story here.