Diesel Prices Squeeze US Farmers Amid Record Highs

Record diesel prices are squeezing US farmers who need it to power their combines, tractors, and other equipment during the harvest season. The national average price of diesel reached $6.05 a gallon on Friday, up 60% since late February.

Farmers like Jason Kurtz, who grows corn and soybeans near Forest City, Missouri, are feeling the pinch. He's paying twice as much for diesel this year compared to last year, which is already adding to his financial strain.

Kurtz said he expects to use 200 gallons of fuel a day for 30 days to harvest his crops. The rising cost of diesel is eating into his profit margins and forcing him to delay some work until prices come down.