Michael Speer

They want the Ogallala Aquifer

This has the lease amount of red on it at this time of year in modern memory. Since 2021, this has been miserable to look at when making MPCI decisions.

The scariest age for a man is 37. Not because something dramatic happens that day, but because many realities begin to collide at the same time. At 37, life stops feeling theoretical. The dreams you had in your twenties are now being measured against the reality you have built so far. Some men feel proud of their progress. Others quietly begin asking themselves uncomfortable questions. By this age, responsibilities are usually heavy. Career pressure is real, family expectations may be rising, children may depend on you, and financial decisions suddenly carry more weight than they did before. Another subtle thing happens around this age. You begin to notice your parents aging. The people who once looked strong and permanent start showing signs of slowing down. It reminds you that time is not standing still for anyone. At the same time, you start realizing that your energy is no longer unlimited. The reckless optimism of youth begins to fade, and decisions must become more intentional. For many men, 37 becomes a moment of reflection. A point where they either double down on building the life they want or drift into routines that slowly define the rest of their years. The scary part is not the age itself. It is the clarity that suddenly arrives with it.

Debt is the single biggest barrier to entry for young farmers. Not knowledge. Not work ethic. Not access to land. Debt. The young farmer who figures out how to start without taking on a crushing operating loan in year one has a completely different trajectory than the one who doesn't.

There is a way off of American farmer dependency on expensive synthetic fertilizer - it is regenerative agriculture. If more people knew that they could grow their own fertility, it would lead to true national security.