Staff photo by Fritz Busch Westbook farmer Robert Nelsen talked about farming these days at Farmfest Tuesday. He said farming reminds him of the 1980s with high interest rates and fluctuating prices.

GILFILLAN ESTATES — A Westbrook farmer known for recruiting many soybean farmers to the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association a few years ago, compared farming these days to what it was like in the 1980s.

Sitting in the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) tent at Farmfest Tuesday, Nelsen talked about how farming today reminds him of the past.

“It feels like the 1980s all over again. Interest rates and prices,” said Nelsen who produces corn and beans and raises cattle south of Dovray in Murray County.

“Prices fluctuate so much. Chicago looks at it and says rain makes grain. They don’t realize the flooding we got in our area. My grand kids lost about 100 acres of 2,000 acres they farm. Some of their neighbors lost about half of their crop. A relative near Lake Benton lost 500 acres of beans and 100 acres to rain and hail.” he said.

Nelsen said much of southern Minnesota suffered crop losses due to weather this summer.

“It’s a scary time. Storms have hit almost the whole State of Minnesota, Most guys have insurance but all that covers is your losses,” he said.

Nelsen said his farm did well last year with 250 to 260 bushels an acre.

“Last year, we got timely rain. This year, we got floods. We got done planting April 24. The plants are tall but we may get half the yield this year,” he said.

He said overspending is another issue.

“Some young people spent too much on big equipment, trying to keep up with the neighbors. You can’t do that,” he said.

Nelsen said the cattle market is doing well.

“Years ago we had Scottish Highland cattle and took them to every county fair in southwest Minnesota. They don’t look very big, but they weigh a ton each. We’ve still got some. Some people call them the buffalo from Europe. They’ve been good to us. My wife is from Wales and wanted to raise them. We used to have a big herd,” he said.

Several years ago, Nelsen was well known for recruiting for the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) and American Soybean Association (ASA). He received the ASA top recruiter award for a number of consecutive years.

In 2016, Nelsen recruited 183 members, helping the MSGA boost membership by the highest percentage in the country. He recruited in-person near his home and at Minnesota ag trade shows like Farmfest and the Minnesota Ag Expo in Mankato.

His favorite recruiting tool is handwritten letters to current and expiring members.

Nelsen helped found the Murray County Corn and Soybean Growers Board.

He is also known for an extensive antique toy collection including tractors and farm implements including John Deere A and B models plus miniature trucks, cars and airplanes.