Uncertainty remains the buzzword for the overall economy, including the farm economy. According to Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Regional Economist Joe Mahon, fertilizer prices and global market volatility remain major concerns, especially for growers who did not secure fertilizer supplies for the current crop year. Mahon also emphasized the importance of ad hoc government assistance programs during the recent stretch of weak farm income and tight margins. “What I hear from my contacts in the industry is that those have just been crucial over the last couple of years, particularly the farm er bridge program.”  Mahon was part of the AgriGrowth Spring Economic Forecast Luncheon.