With the agricultural economy facing a number of headwinds, Bell Bank’s 12th annual AgViews Live seminar brought together producers, lenders and stakeholders to discuss the most pressing issues in ag.

Lynn Paulson, Bell’s director of agribusiness development, once again teamed up with ag finance speaker Dr. David Kohl to discuss how the time is now for farmers, ranchers and producers to make important – and perhaps difficult – choices.

Lower commodity prices, elevated interest rates, weather challenges, changing trade and geopolitical events, and succession planning concerns are creating difficult conditions, especially for crop producers. In fact, 2026 looks to be the fourth consecutive year of negative returns for many crop producers, making it essential to pay attention to fundamentals, Lynn said.

“In these tougher times, you have to go back to the basics,” he added.

Successful operations can prepare for risks by building working capital during good times, locking in margins, reducing debt, and finding off-farm income streams.

Additionally, effective operations work to avoid arrogance, bureaucracy and complacency, what Dr. Kohl termed the “bad ABCs of business culture.”

Other topics discussed at this year’s AgViews Live included:

Succession Planning: With many ag operations preparing for generational transitions, succession planning remains one of the biggest challenges.

According to Dr. Kohl, 49 percent of farmers and ranchers have no will, which represents a major risk to effective farm succession planning as baby boomers look ahead to retirement.

For families that want to pass the operation to the next generation, having important conversations as early as possible is critical.

"I think it’s all about communication on the front end, being able to share what your wishes are,” Lynn said.

That’s where a professional facilitator, such as a lawyer, can help, he added.

Consolidation: In response to an audience question about whether consolidation in agriculture can be reversed, Dr. Kohl said that he expects it to continue, especially in the grain industry and in suppliers to the grain industry.

“I think that train has left the station,” Lynn agreed. “I don’t know how you reverse that trend.”

Artificial Intelligence: As at past AgViews Live seminars, the rapid development of artificial intelligence was another topic discussed by the presenters. Dr. Kohl said AI is already beginning to influence agriculture, from helping producers analyze data to assisting with crop monitoring through drones and other technologies.

"It's not going away, but advancing at record speed," he said.

Looking Ahead

While the current environment presents challenges, both Lynn and Dr. Kohl emphasized that agriculture has always been cyclical. Operations that adapt to changing conditions while preparing for risks can best position themselves for long-term success.

Producers who know their numbers, maintain liquidity, surround themselves with trusted advisors and focus on long-term planning will be able to navigate uncertainty and take advantage of opportunities in the years ahead.

This article was published in the Q3 2026 issue of our AgViews newsletter.