As Farm Aid arrives in Minneapolis this weekend, many farm-related groups are using the festival to highlight many of the challenges facing farmers across the state.
Ben Lilliston, with the Minneapolis-based Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, tells WCCO Radio's Vineeta Sawkar low commodity prices, and what he considers a market failure, is having an impact.
"Many farmers who are growing corn or soy are seeing prices dip below their cost of production," says Lilliston. "And that's a lot of farmers in Minnesota. We're seeing export markets close off, and that's related to a lot of the tariff fights that are going on with the Trump administration."
Farm Aid prep continues in Minneapolis as the giant festival celebrates its 40th year this year. It's the first time the festival has been in Minnesota since it was founded in 1985.
Along with the music, many organizations use the event to highlight the good and the bad going on across agriculture.
Lilliston says that over the years, more people have become interested in where their food comes from, and what's in it, and that's a good thing.
"Minnesota has definitely been, you know, one of the leading states in the country in developing that type of culture and interest," Lilliston adds. "We have these great food co-ops. We have amazing farmers' markets, and we have a lot of really great local food companies."
Farm Aid has raised more than $85 million to promote "a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture."
Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization who says their mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America.
Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp organized the first Farm Aid concert in 1985 after comments made at Live Aid that year by Bob Dylan, a native of Minnesota who was just added to the Farm Aid lineup in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Tickets for Farm Aid are still available and start at $114. The show features founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, plus Dylan, Margo Price, Dave Matthews, Kenny Chesney, Wynonna, Steve Earle, and many more. You can find more information here.