With the potential of another year of low commodity prices and additional trade disruptions looming, Iowa agriculture lenders are urging their borrowers to be proactive as they prepare for the 2019 growing season.

Lenders are meeting with farmers this winter to establish marketing strategies to be prepared to take advantage of potential opportunities in crop and livestock markets during 2019. They are working through financial statements with farmers to develop realistic cash-flow projections for ag­­riculture’s current fin­ancial environment. And they are discussing ways farmers can reduce costs or boost income to firm up their balance sheets.

“It’s critical that farmers meet with their lenders as early as possible to get an accurate financial picture of...