THOMASVILLE — Farmer Stacy West is certain of some things: High fuel prices and fertilizer that costs three times more today than it did three years ago.

What he is not so sure about is the weather and the unfinished federal farm bill.

On Tuesday, West, a Mitchell County resident working on a tractor in a field in Thomas County, said that they have planted corn and are getting ready for other crops.

“They haven’t yet come out with a farm bill and here we are doing all this,” he said. “I’m pretty sure it’s going to happen.”

The current farming environment is difficult enough this year, he said.

“Everything’s going up,” West said. “Roundup has doubled, seeds have doubled. Fertilizer has tripled over the last three years.”

And the cost of diesel also has skyrocketed, with even off-road fuel selling for $3.50 or $3.60 a gallon, he said.

Thomas County extension agent R.J. Byrne said that challenges to America’s farm subsidies from Canada and Brazil delayed the 2007 farm bill because a successful challenge to the World Trade Organization could lead to Congress having to rewrite the laws.

Brazil filed a complaint with the trade organization over cotton subsidies, and Canada’s complaint, which has been dropped, was related to corn subsidies.

“Brazil claimed the United States violated maximum (cotton) support payments six of the last eight years,” Byrne said. “Now they’re starting to focus on feed grains like wheat, corn. If the cotton compliant was valid, why can’t they press forward on other farm programs?”

Byrne said he expects Congress to finish the $286 billion farm bill, which includes price support programs, nutrition, conservation and disaster assistance components.

“Right now, for most of the row-crop farmers, it’s not coming into play for them,” Byrne said of the delayed farm legislation. “If we don’t decide something soon, it could cause some confusion. World trade has a lot to do with it. There is just a ton of stuff that goes on with the farm bill.”

Soil moisture is “decent” at the moment, but Byrne said it would take a substantial amount of rainfall to recharge the soil following the 2007 drought.

West was hoping Tuesday for rain because only about 15 percent of the operation’s 5,800 acres are irrigated.

“That’s one of the things we’re facing -- weather, just the prices of fertilizer, diesel and chemicals. You’ve got to rely on God. Some years are good, some years are not so good and some years are bad. Most farmers, they love it. That’s the reason you do it.”



Reporter Alan Mauldin can be reached by calling (229) 226-2400, ext. 226.