input costs

Fertilizer consumption suffered in 2022 due to market volatility and record-high prices.  However, a new Rabobank report says a recovery in consumption is possible in some regions next year, with fertilizer prices lowering and commodity prices at historically high levels.   “...

Looking back on 2022, there were many challenges for wheat growers.  While weather threw growers a few curveballs throughout the year, one of, if not the biggest challenge was input costs.  USDA numbers show fuel and fertilizer prices increased by roughly 50% this year, with that rate being much higher in early 2022.  And Britany Hurst...

It’s a common theme across the agricultural community this year, the cost of doing business continues to increase.  Randy Grant, President of the Snake River Sugarbeet Growers Association, said inflation has impacted growers across the area in a variety of ways.   “Our i...

If you are out hunting for a real Christmas tree this year experts say with tight supplies of available trees, the sooner you do your tree hunting the better.  But it does look like everybody who wants a real tree will be able to have one but finding one a few days before Christmas might be challenging.  Now whe...

In many ways, 2022 was a turbulent year for Northwest producers, for a variety of reasons, with some commodities enjoying a great year, and others struggling.  When it comes to the Idaho dairy sector, Rick Naerebout says this was a pretty good year for the average producer.   “...

Farm loan interest rates increased sharply during the third quarter.  The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City said despite the high borrowing costs, farm real estate values continued higher.  However, the rate of increase slowed in the quarter.   Follo...

Idaho’s barley industry enjoyed a bounce back in 2022, and appears to have recovered from the 2021 drought.  Idaho Barley Commission’s Laura Wilder said this year, growers reported 59.9 million bushels, with the average price of $7.59 per bushel.   ...

Input costs may have come down a bit, but they’re still putting the squeeze on many producers across the PNW.  The question is when will prices return to “normal”?   Corey Rosenbusch, president and CEO of the D.C-based Fertilizer Institute, ca...

The Creighton University October Rural Mainstreet Index dropped for the sixth time in the last seven months.  It’s the fifth-consecutive month that the index has been below growth neutral.  Creighton University’s Dr. Ernie Goss said the index...

Last week's USDA cattle on feed report had even more evidence that supplies of fed cattle are shrinking and could eventually lead to a decline in beef production.  This, the USDA notes, has already appeared in higher prices up and down the chain.  USDA li...