Indiana farmers are dealing with high input costs, uncertain commodity prices and changes in international trade, Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Dan Lamb says.

Lamb told Inside INdiana Business that corn and soybean farmers are under the most pressure because they have little control over the prices they receive while paying the costs of production.

“That’s the area that’s the toughest right now,” Lamb said.

Lamb said trade with China has affected crop prices, while Indiana farmers are working to develop new international markets.

“It’s been such a huge market for us for years and years and years and now they’ve got a really good relationship with Brazil and it’s gonna be hard to ever get back to where that was,” Lamb said.

Lamb, who also farms, said his operation has had difficulty making money for the past three years.

“So now it’s just man we need yield and we need price and to offset those input costs,” he said.

Lamb also addressed the debate over data centers and farmland. He said local communities should decide how development fits with agriculture.

“I’m big on that. I’m big on local control and property right,” Lamb said. “I like refer to be able to do what he wants to do with his own land and but those local officials of the ones that are gonna make those decisions.”