Patrick Smith, CEO of Loftus Ranches, is fighting inflation as well. Some fertilizer materials have nearly doubled in a year or two, he says.

“This is scary stuff,” one researcher tells us.

The pandemic accelerated automation purchases, according to an industry group, especially in agriculture, construction and fast food.

“There are a lot of empty fields that aren’t being planted — something I’ve never seen before,” say Terranova Ranch’s Don Cameron.

Wheat prices could increase more than 40% and energy more than 50% this year, according to the bank’s president, David Malpass.

The Biden administration is examining the role market consolidation may play in the cost of seeds, fertilizer and other agricultural supplies.

The plan includes training for federal lenders about working with farmers and ranchers who work inside the borders of tribal nations.

One possibility: finding ways to use land under and around solar panels to grow crops.

Seed and fertilizer are just a few of the products whose costs have risen because of ongoing supply chain problems.

Iowa corn and soybean farmer April Hemmes paid double for nitrogen this year. Consumers shouldn’t blame growers for inflation, she said.