Articles

Mississippi Farmer Wesley Swedenburg

Washington, January 21, 2026

Tags: Agriculture

We are proud to recognize two hardworking Mississippi farmers, Steve Swedenburg and his son, Wesley.

Steve Swedenburg has spent his entire life on the farm. Raised on his parents' dairy farm, he began row cropping nearly 50 years ago and has devoted decades to working the land. His son, Wesley, grew up in Columbus and spent much of his childhood on the farm. In college, farming was not initially part of Wesley's career plans, but he continued to lend a hand anytime he could.

After graduating from Mississippi State University in 2017 with a degree in Agricultural Economics, Wesley decided to pursue farming full time. "I really love it," Wesley said. "Every day is something different." He began overseeing daily operations on his father's farm, and last year took a step forward by acquiring his own land and expanding their operation.

Today, the Swedenburgs farm about 2,500 acres across Lowndes and Noxubee Counties - with the county line running right through Wesley's front yard. Together, they grow corn, cotton, soybeans, and occasionally wheat.

Like many farmers across Mississippi and the country, the Swedenburgs have faced a challenging few years. "It was very dry last year," Wesley said. "This year, we dealt with a wet spring and dry conditions toward the end of growing season," In addition to unpredictable weather, low commodity prices over the past two to three years and rising input costs have strained operations. Workforce shortages also remain a concern. While the Swedenburgs are fortunate to have four full-time employees who have been with them for more than 30 years, they typically rely on two or three seasonal workers. "It's just hard to find young people who want to get into farming," Wesley said.

Despite these challenges, Wesley remains hopeful about the future and the direction of agricultural policy. "I think President Trump's policies are pointing us in the right direction and will help in the long term," he said.

Last March, the Swedenburgs applied for the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), a key initiative I led in the Farm Assistance and Revenue Mitigation (FARM) Act. This program provided direct assistance to help farmers offset rising input costs and declining commodity prices for the 2024 crop year. Wesley received 85 percent of his payment in March, with the remaining 15 percent paid out in October.

Mississippi farmers like Steve and Wesley are the backbone of our state and our nation. I will continue fighting for policies that ensure our farmers have the tools and resources they need to succeed.