As harvest season winds down in West Tennessee, farmers are watching two things closely: what it costs to run their equipment and whether the weather will cooperate, WBBJ reported from a farm in Haywood County.
Third-generation farmer William Barken grows soybeans and wheat and said this has been a challenging year. He said diesel prices pretty much doubled from last season to this one. Combines, tractors and other heavy equipment all run on diesel, so each trip across the fields adds to expenses. According to AAA, diesel prices are still hovering near $6 a gallon.
Costs on both ends
Barken also hauls soybeans, which he said makes the cost hit twice. When hauling costs rise, he said, he has to pass part of the increase on to the people he hauls for, which is tough on both ends.
A dry stretch
Fuel is not the only challenge. Barken said the rain in his area stopped around June, and the farm got a little more in August. A lack of rain puts pressure on a crop at any stage, and farmers say planning is harder when the weather is uncertain.
Context on fuel costs
Regular gasoline has been easing. AAA's latest weekly report shows Tennessee's average at $3.71 a gallon, down nine cents from last week and 24 cents from a month ago, though still $1.07 higher than a year ago. That decline is for gasoline, and diesel remains much higher.
Why it matters
Agriculture is a major part of life in Haywood County and across West Tennessee, and farm costs can reach consumers through the price of food and hauling. Barken said the connection to the land keeps him going despite the uncertainty each growing season brings. As the harvest ends, he and other farmers are keeping an eye on both the weather and the cost of running their operations.
Sources: WBBJ, AAA as cited by WBBJ