Missouri farmers are looking ahead and feeling good about how the year will unfold for their businesses.
A new survey from the Missouri Farm Bureau found 40% of respondents were more optimistic than a year ago about the future of agriculture in the state.
“I think farmers are eternal optimists,” said Matt Moreland, a fourth-generation farmer in Harrisonville. “We’re always, ‘next year will be better, next year will be better.’ And so this is the start of the next year.”
About 41% of those surveyed noted no change in their outlook, which leaves less than 20% feeling more pessimistic about 2024.
Moreland is one of the optimists.
He raises cattle and plants corn, beans and even sunflowers.
“We kind of do a little bit of everything,” he said.
When it comes to farm trends, they’ve seen everything.
“We’re used to kind of riding a wave,” Moreland said. “Things have been tough the last few years kind of as a whole for agriculture. And things are maybe, starting to kind of turn around and look a little bit better.”