Nebraska farmers battle rising fuel prices

Thomas farms owner shares his thoughts on rising fuel prices.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN)- The rising cost of oil and fuel has hit Nebraskan farmers hard in their cost of production.

Even though President Joe Biden announces using the strategic petroleum reserve for the next six months, it doesn’t take effect immediately.

For farmers like Scott Thomas, third-generation owner of Thomas Farms in Ashland, Nebraska, the cost has been astronomically high.

“We use about 30,000 gallons a year of fuel between all the vehicles. In 2021 example numbers our offer of fuel was contracted at 2.37 cents, this year it was contracted at 4.12, which is close to a 75 percent increase in price,” Thomas said. “It came as big sticker shock, but not much you can do about it, equipment has to run in order for us to get our job done without fuel really nothing gets done.

Nebraskan farmers like Thomas are taking a gamble with prices and survival.