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

- Link: https://www.widthness.com/diesel-prices-squeeze-us-farmers-barely-getting-by-amid-tariffs-and-drought/
- Published: 2026-05-08T09:30:00-05:00
- Author: Curated by Theresa Wysocki

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. […] Click here to view original web page at www.theguardian.com Related articles: Trump Agriculture Chief Claims ‘Golden Age’ Is Coming. US Farmers Say They’re ‘Barely, Barely Getting By’ – Common Dreams Farmers reeling from Trump policies hit back at admin with blunt fact check – Raw Story The New Farm Bill Could Change SNAP, Food Access, and the Cost of Eating in America – Food & Wine America’s New National Security Threat: Farmers With Wind Leases – CleanTechnica Fertilizer costs are squeezing farmers nationwide – Investigate Midwest American farmers bet on solar. Then Trump changed the rules. – Grist Curated by Theresa Wysocki Director of Art & Design See Full Bio