HURRICANE MILLS, Tenn. (WKRN) — Under the clear October sky, one might assume that another successful harvest is underway in Humphreys County. However, a closer examination reveals a more complex scenario.

Eric Mayberry, who oversees more than 1,000 acres of farmland that has been in his family for generations, serves as the president of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, the nation’s largest of its kind.

His extensive experience gives him a keen insight into the inherent risks of farming.

“Farming is a gamble,” Mayberry explained. “You plant a seed, hoping for favorable conditions from Mother Nature and a market price that justifies the investment. Faith is essential.”

This year, that leap of faith seems even more daunting.

Despite achieving record corn yields of over 200 bushels per acre, Mayberry notes that the returns are insufficient to cover costs.

“Any other time that would be a somewhat joyous situation,” he said. “But it’s not really this year for us because we have so much money invested in this crop-per-acre that we’re going to break even or maybe even lose money on this farm.”

Across Tennessee, farmers are confronting the same reality: input costs that remain far above pre-pandemic levels and grain prices that continue to slide. Global demand for American crops has softened, and exports have slowed, leaving many with less income heading into winter.

“That’s just hard to absorb,” Mayberry said. “We pay full retail for our inputs and then we’re price-takers at the end of the day.”

He said this is his third year in this exact situation. Only this time, it’s worse.

It’s not just a Tennessee problem. Inflation, trade tensions and now a government shutdown have squeezed producers across the country.

“Generally speaking, if you say tariff to a farmer, he’ll start shaking his head,” Mayberry said. “It is not good in the short term. It may be good in the long term.”

According to the Tennessee Farm Bureau, the state’s agriculture industry has lost an estimated $430 million this year alone and nearly $730 million over the last two years. Many farmers, Mayberry said, are holding off on buying new equipment or delaying repairs.

Still, despite the numbers and the worry, Mayberry isn’t giving up.

“I get frustrated with the political systems sometimes, but if you look around the world at some countries and the things they have to deal with, we’re still very fortunate to be Americans,” he said. “And I sure love being an American farmer.”