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Iowa farmer optimistic about 2024 inputs

A southwest Iowa farmer says some input costs have decreased and it’s helped provide relief.

Fremont County farmer Justin Ewalt says lower production costs are needed with interest rates on the rise. “Ammonia is quite a bit cheaper now than what we paid here last couple of years. Fertilizer is a little cheaper too. That’s kind of promising, especially when you’ve seen the top taking off the grain markets here over the last three or four months.”

But he tells Brownfield he’s concerned about high diesel prices. “It would sure be nice if we could get diesel fuel kind of lined out a little bit. That’s become a lot bigger expense for everyone this fall than we anticipated.”

The national average price of diesel is currently $4.34 per gallon, according to AAA.