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Farmers evaluating ways to cut diesel costs

An organic row-crop farmer says the premium he receives for his crops has been somewhat helpful as diesel prices remain at record highs.

Steve Ewald has been growing organic corn, soybeans, and dry beans for more than 25 years in Michigan’s Thumb.

“It still hurts when you fill the fuel barrels up, so any strengthening in the market is welcome.”

He says making trips across the field on idle can keep usage to about a gallon an hour, but there aren’t a lot of other ways to cut out fuel.

“You’re doing the things that sound like they make a lot of sense by not idling, you don’t have wasted idle time,” he says. “Maybe we’re driving the gas pickup to town instead of a diesel or something like that. But when it comes right down to it, there’s not a lot of things we can change.”

Ewald says higher freight costs could limit what markets are available this fall, and he’s likely to sell crops more regionally.

He says he can only hope countries can sort out their differences and global prices can come back down.