Like the rest of the nation, inflation and supply issues are making people's pocketbooks tighter in Wyoming. This is no different for farmers as they face the coming growing season.
Prices for fuel, electricity, gas, machine parts and other supplies are doubling or in some cases even more than that.
Jeremiah Vardiman, University of Wyoming Northwest area extension educator for agriculture, said farmers are trying to get ahead of the problem.
"They're expanding where they're looking for certain products, maybe seed, fertilizer, parts, chemicals. They're shopping a lot harder, because there's quite a wide range in pricing," said Vardiman.
Tying into inflation problems are supply chain issues. Vardiman said so far there have been no major blocks in the chain but some are worried there could be in pesticide manufacturing. From the producer perspective this year, everything might be a little tighter.
"Their input cost might cost more and it doesn't necessarily mean that they're going to make more money once they go to market," said Vardiman. "And so they might be looking at a little bit leaner or tighter of a year in other aspects of their operation or of their livelihood."
Right now, it's a wait and see game to see how much farmers will be impacted.
