Diesel prices squeeze US farmers ‘barely getting by’ amid tariffs and drought

Photo: Richard Eaves of Oak Bluff Farms LLC in Frederick County, Md., preparing to plant spring corn – May 12, 2020. Photo credit: USDA / FPAC photo by Preston Keres via Flickr. Public Domain. Article by Sara Murphy. The Guardian – May 7, 2026.

It has been a tough few years for American farmers. Squeezed last year by tariffs, they lost an estimated $34.6bn when former trade partners stopped buying. Now, the war with Iran has not only depleted crucial fertilizer stores but has also driven diesel fuel up to record prices. Like the trucking industry, agriculture relies heavily on diesel to run machinery, as diesel-powered engines are more fuel efficient than gasoline-powered ones. Worst of all, the price increase is taking place during the spring planting season. […]

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