Diesel Prices Hit Record Highs, Crushing US Farmers' Bottom Line

US farmers are facing record-high diesel prices just as they need it to harvest soybeans and corn. The national average price of diesel hit $5.85 a gallon on September 4, surpassing previous highs. Since then, it has risen even higher, reaching an average of $6.05 a gallon on Friday, according to the American Automobile Association.

Farmers are already facing tough conditions due to increased costs for fertilizer, seeds, and equipment. Paul Mitchell, a professor of agricultural economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, notes that these prices 'hurt' not only during harvesting but also when moving grain or silage from fields to farms and then to markets.

Jason Kurtz, a corn and soybean farmer near Forest City, Missouri, is paying twice as much for diesel this year. He expects to use 200 gallons of fuel per day for 30 days to harvest his crops. His finances are already tight due to higher costs for fertilizer and chemicals.