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Ask people in and out of upper Midwest agriculture about challenges facing modern ag, and you'll get varying responses. The answers are important and will continue to have huge impacts on our extended ag community.

Here's my list; please remember my space was limited. Let me know if you have others or disagree with the ones below.

Nonfarmers don't understand us or care about our problems. This is the most common lament of area agriculturalists. And there's a lot of truth to it. But it's also true that giving up — not even trying to create better ties with the public — makes things even worse. So, please, continue to fight the good fight in working with nonfarmers, as difficult as it may be.

Food costs too much! Food inflation has become a major irritant, and worse, for countless consumers. Sadly, I have no easy answer on how to mitigate the frustration or the challenge. If you have a solution, or a partial one, let me know.

Ag is too much of a business, not enough of a way of life. Yeah, maybe so. The way of life stuff can be pretty cool. But ag has always been first and foremost a business. Always will be. Paying the bills and supporting family and merchant partners must come first.

The old days were better. Back in the day, or so it's said, local communities were stronger. Neighbors were closer and more connected. Farm families spent more time together. I dunno; some of those virtues no doubt are true, though exaggerated over time. The undeniable downside is that a relentless routine of endless physical work drained front-line agriculturalists. I see grainy old photos of my 60-something homesteading ancestors, and their weariness is palpable. Yeah, the good old days had strengths. But I'll take the here and now — and I'm pretty sure most of you will, too.

All those big farmers don't care about the environment/Mother Earth. Maybe I'm wrong, but there seems to be more talk about this, especially among young people. In many cases, I'm afraid, their views are locked in. But let's hope that some can be influenced by positive examples of how farmers and ranchers protect their land and help to feed a hungry world.

Free (or freer trade) in ag is under growing attack. Were I asked my own biggest concern, I'd say this one. Free trade (or at least relatively tree trade) has long been a boon and blessing for area farmers. It's opened and expanded foreign markets. It's increased ag sales. It's put more money in the wallets of U.S. farmers. But now, under the guise of "putting America first" and "making America great again" we risk those major gains for smaller, lesser ones that new trade restrictions would bring. Making America great again sounds tough and triumphant; it would be self-destructive, too.

Farm safety is still the priority. Regular readers of this column recognize another short spring safety sermon. Be smart, be safe during the busy planting season.

Jonathan Knutson is a former Agweek reporter. He grew up on a farm and spent his career covering agriculture. He can be reached at packerfanknutson@gmail.com.