'We take it in stride:' Kentucky farmers take brunt of war's high prices.
Chad Ford, a lifelong cattle farmer from Franklin, Kentucky, balances the rising costs of fuel and grain as the latest hurdle to overcome as part of running his family farm. Since the United State’s Feb. 28 strike on Iran, the price of crude oil has soared, with costs rippling from the Strait of Hormuz all the way to American farmers and by extension consumers.
Chad Ford of Franklin, Kentucky has been a farmer since before he can remember. The owner of a multi-generational farm just inside Simpson County on U.S. Route 31W, Ford works diligently day after day keeping the cattle farm operational.
President Donald Trump’s war in Iran has sent fuel prices soaring as the U.S. continues to put pressure on the country following its Feb. 28 strike. Iran retaliated by restricting trade through the Strait of Hormuz, a key passageway for fuel tankers in the global trade route.
President Donald Trump’s war in Iran has sent fuel prices soaring as the U.S. continues to put pressure on the country following its Feb. 28 strike. Iran retaliated by restricting trade through the Strait of Hormuz, a key passageway for fuel tankers in the global trade route.
Ford uses an assortment of machines to power his farm operation. Trucks, tractors, UTVs, and heavy machinery are just some of the things needed to keep production running.
Ford drives his diesel powered UTV over his hilly 3400 acre farm off of U.S. Route 31W. Farm work has been tough on Ford, but he insists that theirs no work he rather do. “I joke with my wife that she’ll probably find me dead on a tractor, but at least I’ll die happy.”
The conflict has rippled thousands of miles from the middle east onto American farms and into consumers' grocery baskets.
“Fuel prices went up when it got real busy,” Ford said after selling a bull to a set of farmers from Tennessee. The spring time provides some of the busiest days of the year for the cattle farmer.
“Fuel prices went up when it got real busy,” Ford said after selling a bull to a set of farmers from Tennessee. The spring time provides some of the busiest days of the year for the cattle farmer.
Ford pulls a stack of hay from his barn for another farmer using a skid steer.
Off-road and on-road diesel tanks sit near the front of Ford Farms. The tanks hold roughly 600 gallons of fuel, not including the two smaller gasoline tanks across the gravel driveway.
Modern farming relies heavily on shipping and transportation costs, with much of cattle ending up across the country before being processed. “40-50 years ago, every farm was self-sustaining,” Ford said, “cattle now are shipped all across the country.”
Three large diesel tanks sit at the front of the property, holding roughly 600 gallons of fuel that power the various tractors, UTVs, trucks and heavy machinery that keep the farm operational.
Diesel prices have soared since the start of the war as Iran has constricted global trade following Trump’s strikes. National prices hovered near $3.80 per gallon before the start of the war on Feb. 28, and have now risen to $5.64 per gallon as of April 6.
Three large diesel tanks sit at the front of the property, holding roughly 600 gallons of fuel that power the various tractors, UTVs, trucks and heavy machinery that keep the farm operational.
Diesel prices have soared since the start of the war as Iran has constricted global trade following Trump’s strikes. National prices hovered near $3.80 per gallon before the start of the war on Feb. 28, and have now risen to $5.64 per gallon as of April 6.
Ford steps out of his diesel powered Ranger UTV after driving it onto his trailer from the repair shop. Costly repairs are just part of the farm work.
Ford dumps 2,4-D concentrate into a spray tank on the back of his UTV. The acidic petroleum based chemical is designed to kill broadleaf weeds and woody plants while leaving grass unharmed. Integral to land management on the cattle farm, the price of 2,4-D has jumped from roughy $6000 per 250 gallons to over $8000 since the start of the war.
After picking up his diesel powered UTV from the mechanic, Ford went back to work trudging across the hilly acreage spraying fencelines and outcroppings with 2,4-D, a petroleum based chemical for weed management.
The concentrate, designed to eliminate broadleaf weeds and woody plants while leaving grass unharmed, is an essential tool for farmers managing their pastures. Ford typically purchases it in 250-gallon bulk orders. A cost that typically sits around $6,000 but in recent weeks has risen to $8,000.
The concentrate, designed to eliminate broadleaf weeds and woody plants while leaving grass unharmed, is an essential tool for farmers managing their pastures. Ford typically purchases it in 250-gallon bulk orders. A cost that typically sits around $6,000 but in recent weeks has risen to $8,000.
Ford tracks along fence lines and outcroppings spraying 2,4-D weed killer over his property.
Ford steps out of his Ranger UTV to fix the pressure on his W,D-4 weed sprayer near an outcropping on his property. “You can’t pick and choose your job, you just have to get it done,” Ford said.
Ford Farms is home to nearly 300 “mama cows,” according to Ford. These cows watched as Ford unshackled the fence before driving off in his UTV.
Ford isn’t any stranger to weathering difficult times. He typically begins work on the 3400 acre farm around eight in the morning, working until 4-5 in the evening, and then gets ready for his night shift at UPS from 8pm-12am.
Ford doesn’t seem bothered by the substantial workload, noting that he’s had 30 years of experience doing so. “You kind of have to be resilient.”
Ford doesn’t seem bothered by the substantial workload, noting that he’s had 30 years of experience doing so. “You kind of have to be resilient.”
Chad Ford works with his wife Laura Ford and their daughter to wrangle a bull into a cattle crush machine while “deworming” and vaccinating their livestock.
Chad’s wife, Laura Ford, sprays medicine onto cattle and records their weight as they pass through the cattle squeeze shoot. Laura manages many of the managerial tasks around the farm, arranging spreadsheets and doing much of the bookkeeping. “I don’t watch the prices, I just watch the numbers go up,” Laura said.
Hydraulic cylinders “squeeze” the cattle and restrain their necks so they can be “dewormed” and given vaccines.
Ford walks around the farm with his blue heeler farm dog named Joe after selling a bull to a set of 3-generation farmers from Tennessee.
On April 7, Trump announced a two week ceasefire agreement with Iran after threatening a severe escalation in strikes via Truth Social. Part of the cease fire deal included temporarily opening the Strait of Hormuz, dropping the price of crude oil almost instantly and sending the NASDAQ into a frenzy.
Gas and fuel prices are still expected to remain high in the meantime, but the news provides some relief for farmers and consumers looking for a break from climbing costs.
“I think it will be short-lived,” Ford said as he spoke about the high prices, “I sure hope so.” As with most other things in farming, the price of fuel is just another variable to consider.
Ford often returned a familiar motto his family used to weather many trials around the farm, “We just take it in stride.”
Gas and fuel prices are still expected to remain high in the meantime, but the news provides some relief for farmers and consumers looking for a break from climbing costs.
“I think it will be short-lived,” Ford said as he spoke about the high prices, “I sure hope so.” As with most other things in farming, the price of fuel is just another variable to consider.
Ford often returned a familiar motto his family used to weather many trials around the farm, “We just take it in stride.”
“We take everything in strides,” was Chad Fords motto for managing the latest set of challenges brought by the war’s fuel prices. To Ford, the costs is just another passing hurdle in a long line of other troubles that comes with farming. “It’ll be short-lived,” Ford said, “I sure hope so.”
