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Nebraska rancher says diesel costs squeezing cattle operations

A rancher in the Nebraska Sandhills says soaring diesel prices are hitting every part of her cattle operation.  

Jaclyn Wilson says the run-up has been extremely discouraging. “We’re looking at it not only for input costs for our operation because anything that comes in for miles or hours, those costs are rising too. But, we also have to look at what it costs to get things off the ranch.”

She says transportation costs to ship beef for her direct-to-consumer business have skyrocketed. “You don’t really think about the simple things like that. We also host campers out at the ranch. That’s slowed our campers the high diesel costs, which in turn, they usually buy a couple hundred dollars of beef. That’s product we’re not moving.”

She tells Brownfield the ongoing drought could compound the issue because more ranchers will likely have to feed this winter instead of graze. “For us, personally, corn stalks have been a challenge to locate coming into November and December this year because they didn’t plant them. That’s going to be more tractor time feeding out hay and other supplement forms this winter too.”

Wilson says they’re trying to cut back how many times equipment is used for backgrounding lots. “Doing some simple things like shutting tractors off between loads. We have a mixer that self mixes and grinds the bales for us. Instead of having it grind the belts, then maybe we have a grinder come in and grind the bales. That also saves time for us, too.”

She says she’s also using more ATV’s instead of diesel pick-up trucks in an effort to save in any area she can.