What people seem to not understand is, under the last administration we were a net exporter of energy but when the current administration got it, first thing that happened was a moratorium on new drilling, cutting back on fracking in the Marcellus shale in PA and no new oil leases in Alaska, all by executive fiat plus the shutting down of the Canada pipeline to Texas and that all is contribution to the cost of energy. In this country we have more oil and NG reserves that anywhere else.
The other thing that people don't quite understand and that is, as fuel prices rise, so does the cost to farm and believe me, you food don't come from the market. We grow it. Consequently, As my inputs rise (fuel, fertilizer. pesticides and herbicides) so, as the production costs rise, the cost is passed on to you the consumer. Consequently, expect the cost to feed your face will increase substantially. Double edge sword, you get to pay at the pump plus you get to pay more to eat and last time I checked, food was a necessary item.
I've already increased my end product cost 20% to cover what I anticipate will occur this growing season and your local grocer ain't gonna eat it, he'll pass that along to you.
Whether you like it or not, this country run on fossil fuel energy and it's not just lighting your home and heating it. My tractors don't run on solar, they run on petroleum and I'm not a charity and never will be.
Always keep in mind as you shell out more and more money for the same products you paid a lot less for a year ago that even the cost of pellet will increase because the production costs will also increase and they ain't eating it either.
The propane market is interesting. Propane is really a local priced commodity and I don't bother calling my buddy who owns the local propane company, I just let him do the price anticipation and it it looks like it's gonna jump a lot, he will top off my bottles. I have 4 500 gallon bottle on the property. 2 for the house and two for the grain dryers.
Bottom line is, it's 100% political, like it or not.
Expect your cost of pellets to increase substantially this fall. I'm guessing around 20%, which really has no impact on me because I burn field corn anyway. I do mix in pellets to mitigate the clinkering issue but 1 skid lasts me an entire winter and my corn is basically free, other than dry down cost and harvest costs.
Hope you all got your vaccine shots. We did.