Iowa farmer weathers storm of high inputs

News

Iowa farmer weathers storm of high inputs

A southern Iowa corn and soybean farmer says navigating high input costs has been one of his biggest challenges.

Ray Gaesser of Adams County tells Brownfield his family purchased most of their fertilizer last summer. “Had to buy a little bit here this spring at a really high price,” he said.

He says herbicide availability concerns remain. “We think we have a supply, but we’re not 100 percent sure on everything yet,” Gaesser said.

And, Gaesser says record-high diesel prices aren’t helping the situation. “We should have enough to get through planting, but then by summer here we’re going to need some more,” he said. “It’s going to be pretty much double what it was a year ago.”

The national average was $5.51 per gallon on Friday, according to AAA.

.