Land O’Lakes CEO Beth Ford Says Farmers Face Costly Harvest

Beth Ford, the chief executive of Land O’Lakes, is urging Americans to view farm productivity through the lens of national security. She stated that the current agricultural environment demands a business and investment perspective rather than a political debate.

Ford told Time that this is the most expensive crop season in history. She noted that fertilizer prices have risen, diesel costs are up, and steel prices have increased. These factors place tremendous pressure and volatility on producers.

The company’s leadership team is working to explain the challenges faced by the farmers who supply the cooperative. Ford highlighted that food self-sufficiency is a strength of the United States. She asked consumers to recognize that food production is a key component of American prosperity.

Ford addressed the misconception that rural residents are trying to move to coastal areas. She said that people are happy in their towns and deserve investment. She pointed out that 19 percent of the population lives in rural areas, but these residents comprise 44 percent of the military.

Immigration remains a central economic issue for the sector. Ford noted that two-thirds of farm workers are non-citizen immigrants. She cited an analysis showing that immigration reform could grow the GDP by 3.3 percent over the next decade, adding more than a trillion dollars to the economy.

Before leading the farming collective, Ford held roles in publishing, consumer goods, and oil. She served as a night warehouse foreman and dock foreman in Boston for Mobil. Her earlier jobs included teaching tennis, painting houses, and working as a janitor.

Ford confirmed that Americans are eating more butter than in previous years. She also said cheese consumption is rising, although the United States still trails European nations in dairy intake.