SPOKANE, Wash.– Washington is one of the top wheat producing states in the country, thanks in large part to farms here in Eastern Washington.
But farms across the state have struggled to stay in business in recent years.
USDA reported washington farms lost $400 million in 2024 and Save Family Farming expects those numbers to stay the same for 2025.
But on top of that, rising fuel costs are making things even more challenging for farmers right now.
Wheat farmer Gil Crosby said, “on my farm, I probably use about 4,000-5,000 gallons of fuel and some of my friends that have larger farms will be anywhere from 10,000 to 14,000. So you try to stockpile and buy it at the low.”
Crosby said he wasn’t able to stockpile fuel before prices starting going up and there are many other farmers in the same position.
“I was waiting because, with the economy of farming in Washington State, we’re ranked last on profitability in the United States right now,” Crosby said, “so, you’re trying to keep your bottom line low so you don’t have to borrow money.”
Crosby said the rising cost of gas also affects the price of transporting the wheat he grows. He said 90% of wheat grown in Washington is exported.
“Other policies, just our fuel policies and our taxes on fuel. We’re around a dollar or more per gallon for tax than in Idaho,” Crosby said, “it’s tough.”
Fertilizer prices are also spiking right now and Crosby is concerned about how that could affect him.
He hasn’t gotten his fertilizer prices for the season yet.
For now, he hopes that gas prices will eventually come down and he’ll be able to buy fuel throughout the season as prices drop.
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