How could high input costs affect Lafayette Parish's agricultural economy?
High input costs may force operational cuts in Lafayette Parish farming The rising costs of fuel and fertilizer are directly straining the budgets of farmers in Lafayette Parish, such as Eddie Lewis III. Diesel prices have nearly doubled since Lewis created his budget, and fertilizer costs are up 20%. This has resulted in Lewis being $200,000 over his $1 million budget. To cope, he has been forced to cut labor and postpone equipment purchases, and is rethinking how many fields he will replant across his 1,000 acres in the parish.
- Effect
- Strong negative
- How direct
- Stated in the reporting
- When
- Within weeks
- The story
- No new developments lately
How it reaches Lafayette Parish
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Input costs are rising in Acadiana due to high fuel and fertilizer prices. One sugar cane farmer noted that diesel prices have nearly doubled and fertilizer costs are up 20%. Farmers across Louisiana are also contending with drought, saltwater intrusion, and higher irrigation costs.
The full event1independent outlet -
High fuel and fertilizer prices are driving up input costs for farmers in Acadiana. For one farmer in Lafayette Parish, diesel prices have nearly doubled since he created his budget, and fertilizer costs are up 20%. These increases have pushed his costs $200,000 over his $1 million budget. Facing severe budget overruns, the farmer in Lafayette Parish has been forced to implement cost-saving measures. These measures include cutting labor, holding off on equipment purchases, and rethinking the number of fields he will replant across his 1,000 acres.
1 report connects these two. Brind only summarizes; follow a link to read the reporting itself.
- nola.com Monday
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parish in Louisiana, United States
Everything about Lafayette Parish
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The facts so far
As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.
- Diesel prices have nearly doubled since Eddie Lewis III created his budget last winter.nola.com
- Fertilizer costs are up 20% for the farmer in Lafayette Parish.nola.com
- Lewis estimates he is already $200,000 over his $1 million budget.nola.com
- Lewis is rethinking how many fields to replant across his 1,000 acres in Lafayette, Iberia and Vermilion parishes.nola.com
Why it matters
Agriculture is a top economic driver for the majority of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, and in some, it is the sole economy. The financial strain caused by rising input costs, which has been growing for years, threatens the viability of family farms and the local food supply.
This struggle is part of a larger trend of farm consolidation and closures in Louisiana. While some farmers are doing better than counterparts in neighboring states, the sudden increases in production costs are difficult to absorb, forcing difficult tradeoffs between crop success and financial survival.
What we don't know yet
- Will the temporary state and federal diesel tax relief orders be sufficient to ease the burden on farmers?
- How will the farmer's decision to reduce replanting affect the overall crop yield in Lafayette Parish?
What would change this answer
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Reporting
- nola.comMonday
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