His Story

John Baute has been farming for 35 years on the land that has been in his family since 1951. Together with his son Seth, they are growing corn and soybeans in a 50-50 rotation with a little bit of wheat, depending on yields and conditions of 1,600 acres of land that he has expanded from 160 original acres.

“Farming is all I’ve ever done and ever wanted to do.” 

Lately, the weather has been extremely dry and John has been concerned about having enough capital to keep going and to continue to expand his operation. This July has been extremely hot and dry with the farm experiencing the hottest and driest weather on record.  The weather has been John’s greatest challenge already this season because he’s looking at yields down 30% from what he expected – maybe more.

“The weather has been a constant challenge for us, but so are high grain prices, low yields and loss of ground.  I’m resigned to the fact that dry years happen and wet years happen –and that they are just weather patterns, the way God wanted it.” 

Trying Total Weather Insurance (TWI) for the first time, John took out 300 acres on his highest risk ground and has already received a payout for rain on planting that he feels has helped him with cash flow and given him the confidence to use TWI in full on all of his acres next season.

“My biggest mistake this year was not taking TWI out on 100% of my acres.”