High Fuel Prices Hurting Farmers

The high price of fuel is also making fertilizer more expensive, making it more difficult for farmers to get their crops planted.

The price of fertilizer across the U.S. is expected to increase by 10 to 15 percent this year compared to last year.

In the Wiregrass area, many farmers are struggling with decreasing profits and deciding to abandon certain crops, including peanuts and cotton.

They say the price of fuel is not only affecting the price of fertilizer, but that it is also prohibiting them from operating a lot of machinery necessary to successfully cultivate their crops.

"Well the price of fertilizer just keeps going up, and a lot of that is directly related to the price of fuel because in making ammonium nitrate, it takes a world of natural," said Joe R. Carothers, (D) Houston County.

Farmers also have to deal with a rather dry spring, which is putting many crops behind schedule.