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Farmers seeing some relief from input cost run up, but hopeful more on the way

A pair of Wisconsin farmers say the rising cost of inputs continue to impact their budgets and weigh on their minds.

Shane Goplin, who serves as vice president of the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board and farms in Trempealeau County, says this spring’s jump in diesel prices were a challenge.

“It’s all part of the budget, no doubt about it, and we’re working with pennies.”  He says, “Where a typical grain operation may not use a lot of fuel, but us where we do have more manure, it did affect the budget, no doubt about it.”

AUDIO: Shane Goplin – Wisconsin farmer

Casey Kelleher, president of the Promotion Board and a Jefferson County farmer, says the recent talks of a prolonged ceasefire in the Middle East have brought some relief.

“I guess I’ve already seen that on fuel prices, getting quotes every day, that price of diesel dropped I think about 40 cents.”  He says, “So, if that can keep coming down, that’ll help too.”

However, he tells Brownfield that he’s still concerned about fertilizer prices for next year’s crops.

“Who knows what comes in future years?”  He says, “This year we booked and prepaid for our nitrogen early, so that was a huge blessing in disguise the way that the prices went up. But next year is a whole other year.”

Both say they’re closely watching the cost of both inputs as they prepare to book their fuel for harvest and fertilizer for the fall application season.

AUDIO: Casey Kelleher – Wisconsin farmer