Rising energy prices squeeze farmers and Thanksgiving consumers

As millions of people headed to the grocery store to purchase their ingredients for Thanksgiving this week, rising energy prices were driving up costs at every stage of agricultural production, adding new pressure on both farmers and consumers.

The Consumer Energy Alliance, a nonprofit energy policy group, released a report earlier this week finding that higher fuel and electricity costs are straining farmers’ operations, making it more expensive to produce staples such as milk, meat, and cheese. In 2024, farmers and ranchers spent $49.2 billion on energy, excluding electricity, according to the report.