NEBRASKA -- The new year is bringing myriad of challenges to those in the agriculture industry. 

"This year, the big cloud hanging over the head is what is it gonna cost to get the product into the ground and ultimately get it to harvest," NFB President Mark McHargue said.

Costly fertilizer; fewer parts; and labor shortages are slamming the industry.

"We have a popcorn company and they're really struggling to get containers to get their popcorn out -- that's problematic because it trickles all the way down to the farmer [...] it's difficult to predict how much to plant," McHargue said.

Besides containers themselves, there's at least 80,000 less drivers than needed to deliver products. It's why some people are hoping to lower the required age for truck driving. 

"No doubt the trucking-driving shortages are a big deal, we do support lowering the age," McHargue said.

But shortages are challenging farmers before they even get to distribution.

"We hope the chip thing comes around here pretty soon — there’s a lot of equipment that wanting to be bought," McHargue said. The chaos disturbs cash flow. "What's affecting that, even more is input suppliers are making you pay up front," McHargue.

He said farmers are getting loans earlier than the year, starting this month already. 

"From a cash flow standpoint we have to have significant money upfront," McHargue continued.

But he said there are things to be optimistic about -- given products like corn are at near record-highs.

"The frustrating part is there could be significant profits made if the supply issues weren't there," McHargue said.

Fortunately, he said, the expenses of 2022 are not going to be as detrimental as they would be if those product prices weren't likewise higher.