Trading Uncertainty for Opportunity: Tyne Morgan Interviews Dan Basse on Ag's Future

Interview recorded May 27, 2025

In an era defined by uncertainty, AgResource Company founder Dan Basse sits down with Ag journalist Tyne Morgan to offer a candid look into the state of agriculture. With global trade disputes, political shifts, and weather challenges casting long shadows, Basse stresses that the ag economy’s fortunes are increasingly dependent on location and sector.

While livestock and protein sectors are thriving — buoyed by strong disposable incomes and consumer demand — the grain markets face persistent headwinds. Trade negotiations, particularly with China and Southeast Asia, remain pivotal. Basse warns that delays could impact farmers' ability to capture critical export opportunities, especially for corn, soybeans, and wheat.

Beyond trade, renewable fuels offer a glimmer of domestic demand growth, but policy uncertainty stalls vital investments in ethanol and biodiesel infrastructure. Meanwhile, the cattle and dairy sectors continue to see robust growth, supported by consumer trends and evolving perceptions around protein and dairy health benefits.

However, Basse remains cautious about the near-term outlook for row crops, citing under-marketed new crop sales and the looming threat of lower commodity prices if weather remains favorable and trade resolutions lag.

In short, agriculture’s future is poised on a fence — livestock on one side, grain on the other — and success may well depend on which side of the fence you stand.