CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Iowa’s farmers are facing a new challenge this fall with the absence of information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s report on the Outlook for U.S. agricultural trade. The report previously came in two parts: raw numbers and analysis explaining those numbers. The last two reports included only the data. Farmers say the lack of analysis could have long-term effects that trickle down to consumers.
Aaron Lehman, a fifth-generation farmer in Polk County, has grown corn, soybeans, oats and hay for three decades. He says keeping this information from those that need it most will harm the current trade situation even more.
“We know that the trade situation is difficult and that the numbers don’t look good, but that shouldn’t mean we should be keeping the analysis away from the folks who need it the most,” Lehman said…