Kansas ranchers struggling to keep up with added operating costs

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – The price of feeding livestock is getting costlier for Kansas ranchers with among the added prices getting handed on to shoppers on the grocery retailer.

With the present state of affairs, livestock costs are one thing many Kansas ranchers are struggling to afford.

“We’re undoubtedly not capturing the margin that’s going up within the grocery retailer,” stated Katie Carothers with KCK Farms in Anthony.

Carothers stated whereas cattle producers are getting extra for his or her animals in comparison with final 12 months, rising prices are denying the advantages.

“Feeder calves are up 24 p.c, cow calves 20 p.c, however it doesn’t actually matter when our gasoline, fertilizer and feed is up nearly 50 p.c than it was final 12 months,” she stated. “It’s simply not sustainable.”

Carothers stated she expects excessive enter prices will result in herd liquidation for a lot of ranchers. In flip, that’ll drive the costs for cattle larger.

Even then, Carothers stated, “there’s a ceiling for cattle costs.”

“And I simply don’t see there’s a ceiling for enter prices,” she stated. “They hardly ever go down as soon as they go up.”

KCK Farms sells on to shoppers and to this point, Carothers stated she’s tried to maintain costs degree.

“We’re finally going to have to extend the costs on our web site,” she stated. “I’ve been attempting to carry out, however it’s going to should occur. However that’s the fact of it, that’s the fact of enter prices rising. And that’ price will get handed on.”

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