Local farmers call COVID-19 industry's latest setback

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Many industries, including hospitality, were doing well before the coronavirus pandemic, but not farmers.

COVID-19 is the latest setback keeping the farm economy down another year. From weather to the trade war and low commodity prices, Matt Moreland said farmers around the country are hopeful the pandemic will end soon.

“Our livelihood depends on what we can sell our corn and soy beans and cattle for," Moreland said, "and the markets are jumping around on a daily basis, more than they would jump in a week's time."

The uncertainty comes as Moreland is prepping to plant his crop for the year.

“We have to get supplies, we need fuel and we need fertilizer," Moreland said, "and we need seed and the people and businesses that are selling those are having a hard time keeping their doors open."

Hoping there's a market to sell to in the future, Moreland told 41 Action News he's trying to keep things as normal as possible.

“Being upset about it and being mad about it doesn’t help the situation," he said. "So you have to be upbeat. You have to be happy and you have to know that things will get better."

Though he's always optimistic, Moreland said the fluctuation of prices is unsettling.

The American Farm Bureau Federation showed a steady decrease in soybeans, corn and cattle, Moreland's three main cash cows.

“I think we’ll get through this and I think market prices will recover," Moreland said.