Inflation. It’s that word that pops up in every conversation about the economy, every news headline, and yes, every trip to the store. While most people feel inflation when they see prices inch (or leap) higher at the checkout line, few realize how deeply it affects the folks producing those goods—especially small farms like ours.
Let’s peel back the curtain and talk about what inflation looks like for the people behind the scenes: the farmers who work tirelessly to bring fresh eggs, produce, meat, and more to your table. Because while rising prices might frustrate consumers, for producers, inflation hits every single aspect of what we do.
Start with feed costs. Chickens don’t care about the economy—they eat what they eat, whether feed prices are steady or skyrocketing. And let me tell you, skyrocketing feels like an understatement right now. Grain prices have climbed steadily, driving feed costs higher with each passing month. Then there’s bedding—those wood shavings and straw aren’t free either. Toss in transportation costs (because someone has to deliver the feed and bedding or bring it to market), and the expenses start stacking up like a tower of hay bales, wobbling precariously in the wind.
And let’s not forget labor. Even for a small operation, keeping everything running requires time and effort. It’s early mornings, late nights, and full days of hands-on work. A fair wage for labor is essential—not an indulgence—and yet many people balk at the idea of including labor costs in farming prices, as though farmers should work for free. Newsflash: this is a job, not a hobby, and even farmers deserve to be paid for their time. After all, you wouldn’t clock in at your job and turn down a paycheck, would you?
Now, here’s the thing: when all these costs go up—and trust me, they are rising quickly—small farms can’t just eat the difference. We can’t absorb the rising expenses and pretend nothing’s happening. If we tried, we’d be out of business faster than you could say “fresh eggs.” Raising prices isn’t about greed; it’s about survival. It’s about making sure we can cover our costs, stay afloat, and keep bringing you the high-quality food you rely on.
Inflation hits smaller producers especially hard because we don’t have the safety nets of large-scale operations. We can’t buy feed in massive bulk quantities for a discount or rely on government subsidies to cushion the blow. Every bag of feed, every bale of bedding, every drop of gas has a cost—and for small farms, those costs add up quickly.
When you see higher prices for farm-fresh goods, take a moment to consider what’s behind them. It’s not just feed and gas—it’s the reality of inflation squeezing every part of our operation. It’s us doing everything we can to keep the farm running, to keep the animals healthy, to keep the land thriving, and to keep food on your table. It’s survival in an expensive world, not some scheme to cash in.
What’s your experience with inflation in your life? Have you felt the squeeze, or are you just starting to notice it? Let’s pull up a chair at the farm table and talk about it. Because the more we understand about where our food comes from—and what it costs—the better off we’ll all be.
