President of Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Says High Costs of Production Squeezing Margins in All Sectors

Saturday, October 17th, 2026 -- 9:01 AM

(Jared White, Brownfield Ag News) The president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation says high costs of production are squeezing margins in all sectors of agriculture.

According to Jared White with Brownfield Ag News, Brad Olson, who farms in Polk County, says record high diesel costs impact both crop and livestock operations. “There’s never a good time to have diesel prices high as they are now but certainly fall is probably the worst time.”  He says, “There’s no doubt it has an impact on the budget.”

He says diesel costs aren’t the only thing weighing on producers’ minds as they plan for next year’s crops. “It doesn’t look like fertilizer is going to come down substantially.”  He says, “If these prices stay, why everybody will be seeing what there is for alternatives where they can save those few bucks on something.”

Olson tells Brownfield the situation demonstrates why agriculture needs a new five-year farm bill from Congress. “We’re working on a farm bill that’s 8 plus years old.”  He says, “We do not need just another one-year extension.”

Olson says producers need the certainty of a stronger farm safety net. Congress is on recess until after the November elections.

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