>> It's the thick of harvest season for crops like soybeans and field corn.

The many trucks and combines it takes to bring in the harvest run on diesel still at record high prices.

There's been a lot of print on the plight of the farmer in this economic climate.

But as we found out when we traveled to Rock County and talked with farmer Matt Rehberg, who runs a midsized operation, his immediate attention is on the task at hand.

Tell me about how the harvest is going.

>> Harvest is going well.

We've had a pretty nice fall.

We've had good weather.

It's been sunny.

Weather is three quarters of it.

If you got a good harvest, weather yields are coming in.

I would say about average.

In fact, soybeans might be slightly below average on our farm.

You know, farms vary and corn might be average to slightly above.

So it's just kind of nice to have just a nice steady harvest.

You know, it is.

>> So we know that one of the things that people are talking about in terms of the expenses for farmers right now are diesel prices.

Sure.

How is that affecting your operation?

>> You know, it's it is a line item for us.

We are primarily a no till farm.

Fall is typically when we burn the most amount of diesel.

Spring would be less.

Summer is just a little bit for our spring operation.

But if you look down the ledger, you know diesel for us on our farm, you know, we're not livestock.

Some of these other more intensive or trucking is it is a noted expense, but it's it's not one of the top ones for us.

It's not like land or machinery or fertilizer or seed, something like that.

But yeah, every increase in cost, you know, goes to the bottom line.

So yeah.

>> What about the cost of fertilizer?

Has that been impacted because of the war in Iran?

>> Yeah, that's had an impact.

Just I would say general global economics has played a factor in in the price.

But, you know, I mean, the, the, every industry and consumer is kind of dealing with the same issue.

But, you know, for us, it becomes more of a like a management problem, you know, like, okay, you know, we have these increased costs.

Do we, you know, do a better job marketing?

Do we, you know, control costs, control inputs, it's, it's kind of a, just a challenge of doing business, you know, that we, we're used to.

>> What can you tell me about trade, international trade for your products for soybeans and corn?

>> Historically, you know, last year's big news, of course, was the trade war.

And, you know, I mean, that's an ongoing negotiation.

And I think that's going to be there for the long haul, you know.

And so for us, you know, as a as a producer in, in an industry, you know, we need to do our due diligence to look at other markets.

And we've done that.

And one really cool thing that's kind of cropped up for us is, you know, we're in Wisconsin, we're in the dairy State.

We're now raising a soybean.

That is what they call a plenish, being a high oleic.

And that gets crushed for the cattle market.

Helps out with, I believe, butter fat.

And so it brings a bit of a premium to us.

So that helps out on prices.

We're selling to fellow Wisconsinites.

So we're not international markets.

We're not as worried about it.

You know, it's always a concern, but it's really been a cool opportunity to help, you know, bring a little bit back to a local Wisconsin farm and supply another Wisconsin ag industry.

>> What are you looking ahead to in terms of your break even or profiting or not profiting off this year's.

>> You know, what, what ultimately determines our profitability?

The big weather, that's the ultimate.

We need good weather.

We need to raise a crop.

Close behind is the markets.

They have went up at the end of summer, which was great.

That was we took advantage of the rally.

We were able to sell some grain at a profitable level and, you know, have have a real solid start on the year.

In fact, some farms, myself included, have sold stuff even for 2027.

And looking into the future.

And they've, they've backed off a little bit, but that's typical during harvest, you know, as all the market or all the grains coming to market, you know, typically things soften a little bit.

And so I would say it's markets are, you know, not unexpected to be a little bit softer right now.

>> So I know that you are fully focused on getting the harvest in, but in less than two weeks are the midterm elections.

>> Yeah, yeah.

Coming right up.

Yeah.

>> In terms of that, are there things that farmers like you and others would be looking for?

>> I would say, I think there's probably mirrors the sentiment of most of the public is just whoever is elected into office.

Just please work with your counterparts.

You know, you know, work together.

If it's a good idea.

Don't be afraid to work across the aisle.

You know, we do as an industry, you know, we have to work with whoever's there.

We still have to produce what we produce, do business, and we just encourage whoever's elected in our politicians to do the same thing.

You know, work together.

>> If you're watching us, you're likely not watching