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THE PISSED OFF FARMER CHRONICLES
No spin. Just the truth about agriculture, rural America, and what it's going to take to fix it.
If you are a farmer who feels like the deck is stacked against you, you will find yourself nodding. If you are an ag student who is tired of outdated curriculum and looking for someone to tell it like it is, you will find a mentor in these pages. If you are a rural community leader who needs a new playbook, you will find the start of one here.
The Chronicles is a growing record of decades of hard thinking about the land, the people who work it, and the systems that too often fail them.
ALL POSTS
From Combine to Clean Energy Gala
The Pissed Off Farmer left the combine for CEEM’s 10-year gala, where Jigar Shah showed how far clean energy has come and why ag and climate must team up.
David Kolsrud
2 days ago1 min read
Caution! The Tug of War Over the Farmer’s Dollar
Seed fees, packer consolidation, and equipment subscriptions: three entities are reaching into the family farmer’s pocket. Caution flags are everywhere.
David Kolsrud
6 days ago2 min read
Thoughts from the Combine
Drawing on 30 years in biofuels, David Kolsrud argues that Minnesota's locally owned ethanol model built real economic resilience for farmers, and that the state's next opportunity — exemplified by the 115-farmer-owned Agri Energy biorefinery in Luverne — lies in moving beyond commodity ethanol into low-carbon innovation like precision fermentation and green methanol.
David Kolsrud
Oct 121 min read
Where do we go from here?
Drawing on 30 years in biofuels, David Kolsrud argues that Minnesota's locally owned ethanol model built real economic resilience for farmers, and that the state's next opportunity — exemplified by the 115-farmer-owned Agri Energy biorefinery in Luverne — lies in moving beyond commodity ethanol into low-carbon innovation like precision fermentation and green methanol.
David Kolsrud
Oct 53 min read
No New Farm Bill!
The Pissed Off Farmer predicts a 0% chance Congress passes a Farm Bill in 2026, blaming a pattern of excuses, toothless trade groups, and politicians who profit from PAC money by keeping the crisis alive.
David Kolsrud
Sep 281 min read
COOL: Continued
The Pissed Off Farmer argues that shelving critical ag policy in "lame duck" sessions lets lawmakers dodge accountability while commodity groups and trade associations keep cashing in on "we're so close" — and it's time farmers took a hard look at who's really representing them.
David Kolsrud
Sep 211 min read
Over Abundance
Reflecting on Willard Cochrane's The Curse of American Agricultural Abundance as a lens for AI's impact on rural America, The Pissed Off Farmer wonders whether the country's obsession with endless choice — from TV channels to detergent varieties — is truly a blessing, or a curse in disguise.
David Kolsrud
Sep 141 min read
Big Boy Pants
At the Bio Innovations North America conference in Omaha, The Pissed Off Farmer highlights how Nebraska is squeezing multiple revenue streams out of corn. From commodity sales and value-added processing to cattle feed and carbon sequestration tax credits, it's proof the state's agriculture sector means business.
David Kolsrud
Sep 91 min read
COOL: Country Of Origin Label
The government will let a can of tuna proudly claim "Product of Thailand," but ranchers still can't get "Product of USA" on their own beef. Is it packer concentration, or is it just an excuse to fail instead of a reason to succeed?
David Kolsrud
Sep 81 min read
Where have all the Farmers gone?
Inspired by the folk-song refrain “Where Have all the Flowers Gone?” by Peter, Paul and Mary, this reflection explores the disappearance of farmers and small towns.
David Kolsrud
Jun 161 min read
BREAKING NEWS!
Local farmer David Kolsrud sets out to create a “Farmers Only Optimist Club.” The results are unexpected, hilarious, and raise a bigger question: are these people truly optimists, or just hoping for the impossible? A lighthearted look at optimism and human nature.
David Kolsrud
Jun 151 min read
GRADUATION
The Class of 2026 faces a paradox: endless opportunity and deep uncertainty. Raised in a tech-driven world, they’re ready to shape the future, yet stepping into systems that aren’t ready for them. College, trades, or careers in an AI era all feel uncertain. It’s both the best and hardest time to graduate.
David Kolsrud
Apr 281 min read
INNOVATION AT ITS WORST!
More than a century after W. J. Fraser criticized imitation in farming, little has changed. Many still follow the same corn-soy cycle, chasing efficiency over originality. But real opportunity lies beyond commodities, unlocking greater value from every bushel and embracing innovation in a growing biobased economy.
David Kolsrud
Apr 271 min read
DEAR MOTHER NATURE
Pissed Off Farmer writes to Mother Nature. Turns out, she has a few things to say back.
David Kolsrud
Apr 131 min read
BUSINESS PLANS
Every year, the bank asks for a business plan—and every year, it misses the mark. In a world of unpredictable commodity prices, farmers have learned to keep it simple and honest. Sometimes, the most accurate plan is just a hopeful truth: maybe next year will be better.
David Kolsrud
Apr 121 min read
"WE NEED FARMERS"
A child’s drawing from 1998 still hangs in my office—a simple message: “We Need Farmers.” Created by Cody, age 9, it represents pride, opportunity, and gratitude. His mom’s new job made that moment possible, and his words remain a daily reminder of purpose and impact.
David Kolsrud
Apr 101 min read
PISSED OFF FARMER FINDS WORDS THAT START WITH "C" A BIT CONCERNING.
A “Pissed Off Farmer” riffs through a chaotic list of “C” words, some serious, some absurd. Life is short, put your phone down, do something real, and make your time count.
David Kolsrud
Apr 91 min read
LAWS OF PHYSICS
What if rebuilding rural America followed the laws of physics? By swapping “object” for “community,” Newton’s insights reveal a powerful truth: communities either stay stagnant or build momentum. Those that invest in growth thrive, while others slowly fade—unless an external force sparks change and reignites progress.
David Kolsrud
Apr 72 min read
ECONOMIC LEAKAGE
What do Newton’s laws of motion have to do with rural America? Everything. Replace “object” with “community,” and a pattern emerges: towns either gain momentum or remain stuck. As economic leakage grows and farmers earn just cents per dollar, rural communities face decline—unless they unite, innovate, and create their own force for change.
David Kolsrud
Mar 311 min read
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