High input costs have been a concern for farmers and ranchers for more than a year now, but new numbers show those expenses are starting to come down.
USDA shows overall inputs are down around one percent this year, which is a decrease of more than $4 billion. Livestock feed prices are down 12 percent on the year, and areas like fuel, fertilizer, and pesticide expenses are forecast down by nearly 10 percent.
Some expenses are holding steady, however. Interest, property taxes, and livestock purchases are all expected to remain elevated this year.
