GaryAdamFarmAuction

06 AUGUST 2020 - FAIRFIELD, IOWA: People watch the bidding during the auction on the Adam Farm near Fairfield. Gary Adam, 72 years old, has been farming in the Fairfield area since 1971. He decided to retire this year because he wants to travel and because it's so difficult to make money in farming this year. He said he wants to "shed the risk and responsibility. If things were super good, like they were 2006-2012, I might stay in it, but they're not." An increasing number of farmers in the Midwest are retiring this year as it becomes harder to make money on crops. In addition to low prices, Iowa farmers are being hit with a drought this year, with well below average rain over most of the state. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the auction on Adam's farm was one of the first live in person auctions since winter. Most auctions are now done on line. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ

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Filename: GaryAdamFarmAuction028.jpg
Copyright: © 2020 John Kurtz
Image Size: 6240x4160 / 12.4MB; 080620 Agriculture Auction Economy Fairfield Farm Iowa Rural ZUMA
Contained in galleries: Upper Midwest of the US

06 AUGUST 2020 - FAIRFIELD, IOWA: People watch the bidding during the auction on the Adam Farm near Fairfield. Gary Adam, 72 years old, has been farming in the Fairfield area since 1971. He decided to retire this year because he wants to travel and because it's so difficult to make money in farming this year. He said he wants to "shed the risk and responsibility. If things were super good, like they were 2006-2012, I might stay in it, but they're not." An increasing number of farmers in the Midwest are retiring this year as it becomes harder to make money on crops. In addition to low prices, Iowa farmers are being hit with a drought this year, with well below average rain over most of the state. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the auction on Adam's farm was one of the first live in person auctions since winter. Most auctions are now done on line. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ