Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that inflation is slowing, though farmers and ranchers are still facing many other economic challenges. B ernt Nelson, economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said this economic squeeze has been going on for several years.

“So, if we look at USDA’s recent price indexes for crop producers, the index for our prices paid for supplies, repairs, inputs, things like that, has been higher than the index for prices received for our crops grown over the last five years, and the gap for these prices received and prices paid has grown particularly wider since 2023.”

Nelson added farmers are also trying to balance lower commodity prices with rising interest rates.

“These losses have increased credit use in the industry, all while

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