Soaring fuel prices have farmers looking for ways to conserve

by Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

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Skyrocketing fuel prices force farmers to find ways to conserve

Skyrocketing fuel prices have Bill Jessup and his son Fred Jessup looking for subtle ways to conserve on their Elkhart County farm. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Apr 14, 2008 at 2:10 PM EST

Story Updated: Apr 15, 2008 at 10:51 PM EST

ELKHART CO. — Prices for corn and soybeans are rising around the country. That's good news for local farmers, but those gains will likely be offset by skyrocketing fuel prices. That has some local farmers looking at subtle ways to conserve.

Bill Jessup and his son Fred are getting ready for planting season.

They estimate they'll be using around 6,000-7,000 gallons of fuel to plant their crops.

The high cost of diesel means their profit margin won't be as high as they'd like, even with commodity prices on the upswing.

“This is the highest we've ever seen fuel prices,” Bill told WSBT News. “There is a big inflation on everything and fuels went with it. But it takes a lot of profit, what looks like the profit, out of the crop.”

"They've probably increased over the last couple of years, probably 25-30 percent,” Fred explained. “Commodity prices have gotten higher, along with those to help offset those costs, but there's a lot of other factors that go into the bottom line and what you’re making."

Those factors include the rising cost of fertilizer as well as natural gas, used to dry corn bins or heat animal shelters. The cost of gas to haul their crops is also a factor.

As a result they say when spring planting gets under way, they're going to be looking at different, subtle ways to conserve fuel, but still get the job done.

“Well we're going to have to be more efficient, and maybe not make as many trips across the field as you normally would,” Fred said. “But you’re going to have to do things right, and it is going to take fuel. You're just going to have to be conscious of what you do and if you leave things running.”

Planting season for many farmers usually begins now. But some farmland is saturated with water from the heavy snowfall and rain we've had. That's pushing back planting until the end of the month.

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