The start of Sean Kneebone\u2019s growing season began with the realization that fertilizer prices had almost doubled since last year. As harvest approaches, fuel prices are consuming what margin the third-generation farmer had left.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou spent a fortune to put a crop out, and now you\u2019re going to spend a fortune to take it off,\u201d Kneebone said. \u201cAnd you better hope you got half-decent crop. And hopefully you come out in the end break-even. There\u2019s not much of a profit to be made.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kneebone, who farms 500 acres in Lower Mount Bethel and Washington townships, is far from alone in expressing concern. The stress is audible in Lehigh Valley farmers\u2019 voices as they describe an ever-growing list of pressure points topped by preharvest spikes in diesel fuel prices.<\/p>\n
The people working the land are early risers with a long list of reasons to stay awake at night. As rising grocery prices continue to hit consumers\u2019 wallets, the producer end of the farm-to-table spectrum say they\u2019re under the same strains.<\/p>\n
Fueling the farm<\/p>\n
Fourth-generation farmer Tyler Smith is part of a family operation with 1,050 acres of corn, soybeans and hay to harvest across East Allen, Allen, Lehigh, Moore and Hanover townships in Northampton County.<\/p>\n
That means running tractor-trailers and combines that hold 200-300 gallons a piece, so the recent rise in diesel fuel prices is about to start biting.<\/p>\n
The equipment requires refueling every couple of days. As Smith and other local crop farmers approach their peak harvest time, the average cost of diesel in Pennsylvania stood at $6.57 on Thursday.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it\u2019s $3 or $4 a gallon higher than what you\u2019re used to paying, that adds up in a massive hurry,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
Driving vehicles isn\u2019t the only fuel cost for farm businesses that process crops for animal feed.<\/p>\n
Propane is also required to dry out corn. Brad Weinhofer, a fourth-generation farmer whose family has already started the grain harvest on its 2,200 acres in Whitehall, East Allen and Allen townships, said modest increases in commodity prices won\u2019t make up the difference as fuel, fertilizer and equipment costs have doubled.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems like we kind of get it on every end, in every avenue lately with these prices going up,\u201d Weinhofer said.<\/p>\n
Geopolitics hit home<\/p>\n
Lehigh Valley farmers have had a year in which they cannot ignore the local impact of international events.<\/p>\n
Following the outbreak of the Iran war, Smith watched prices climb for his biggest crop input: nitrogen fertilizer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in March, immediately prior to the highest demand time of the year \u2014 how can that not be a challenge?\u201d Smith asked.<\/p>\n
As stretched farm budgets rippled up the food supply chain, Kyle Kerr wondered whether consumers watching beef prices spike know it\u2019s more expensive than ever for him to source new calves for his Washington Township farm.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an unfortunate cycle right now \u2014 passing it down the line, basically,\u201d Kerr said. \u201cOur costs are raised, and, therefore, we have to reluctantly raise our prices in order to be able to keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kerr is the first generation in his family to go all in on the agriculture business. A job selling crop insurance brings in income as he and his wife work toward expanding their farm store operation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Both Kerr and Kneebone said rising consumer interest in sourcing food locally has been one bright spot in a rough year.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to be able to be successful, but we also want the consumer to be happy and know where their food\u2019s coming from and be happy with it,\u201d Kerr said.<\/p>\n