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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (April 21, 2022)
6 | Supply: Continued from Page 5 “There’s a lot of price uncertainty of course, but in my opinion crop prices will remain high,” Wysocki said. “Maybe not $12 (per bushel of soft white wheat at Portland), but still up there. With drought in Kansas, war in Ukraine, world wheat prices should stay high, but you need supply to sell.” Turning to the eff ect of infl ation and sup- ply chain disruption on local farmers and ranchers, Wysocki said, “Fuel price hikes aff ect a lot of expenses. You have to pay more to haul grain and for fi eld work. It aff ects the availability of agricultural chemicals, fertil- izer and pesticides. Supplies are short and cost more. Glyphosate (Round-Up herbicide) cost is up and supply down. (Farm chemical companies) will sell to their big, regular cus- tomers fi rst. If you shop around all the time, then you might not be able to buy any. Other herbicides, same situation.” He also said equipment maintenance this past winter was more diffi cult than usual due the supply chain problems. “Parts are a problem,” Wysocki said. “Combine repair needed to be done early, before the Midwest soaked up all the spare parts. Distribution and freight cost more, even when supplies are available.” Older producers have gone through tough times and know how to tighten their belts, he said, but this might be the fi rst time younger farmers have faced challenges like this. “Infl ation might aff ect interest rates. If you need to borrow capital to buy land, or for an operating loan, it could cost you more, or you’re simply priced out,” he said. Kevin Scheibner, 51, a who grows wheat and runs a cow-calf operation in upper Wild- horse Creek near Athena, echoed Wysocki’s comments on the eff ects of infl ation. “Seed costs and any petroleum-based prod- ucts have gone through the roof,” Scheibner said. “But we make adjustments and carry on. American farmers face whatever the world throws at us, and keep moving forward.” PARTS · SERVICE · TRUCK SALES · FINANCE & INSURANCE HERMISTON, OR 800-657-5408 LA GRANDE, OR 800-843-1195 PROUDLY SERVING THE AG INDUSTRY IN WALLOWA, BAKER & GRANT COUNTIES Home of ASK ABOUT FREE BUSINESS TO BUSINESS PARTS DELIVERY www.gossmotors.com WWW.FREIGHTLINERNORTHWEST.COM 1415 Adams Ave, La Grande 541-963-4161
