Diesel Prices Soar to Record Highs Amid US Harvest Season

U.S. farmers are facing record high diesel prices at an inopportune time for their harvest season. The national average price of diesel hit a record $5.85 per gallon on September 4, and has since risen to $6.05 per gallon as of September 11, according to AAA.

This spike is adding to the already tough year for farmers, who have also had to contend with higher costs for fertilizer, seeds, and equipment. Paul Mitchell, a professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, noted that diesel prices hurt not just during harvesting but also when hauling grain or silage from fields to farms.

A corn and soybean farmer in northwestern Missouri, Jason Kurtz, reported paying twice as much for diesel this year. He estimated his combine uses 200 gallons of fuel daily for 30 days, which would cut into his bottom line significantly.