Ohio Farmers Feeling Pinch as Diesel Prices Reach Record High

Ohio farmers are struggling to cope with higher-than-average diesel prices, which have reached $6.82 per gallon in the state - 30 cents more than the national average of $6.52.

Farmer Nathan Gillespie grows row crops and sells freezer beef from his 1000 acres of land in Butler County, where most of his equipment runs on diesel. When he filled his combine up last week, it cost him a staggering $740, which is $290 more than what he would have paid before prices started spiking.

Gillespie estimates that high diesel prices will raise costs on his farm by $15,000-$20,000 this year, but says there's no alternative other than trying to shop around for cheaper fuel. 'We have to get the crops out, we have to get the hay baled, and we have to feed the cows,' he said.

Grain farmer Tim Hesselbrock also faces tight profit margins due to depressed grain prices, which have been driven down by an abundance of crops over the past few years. 'It's gonna be hard to handle the extra expenses with the depressed grain prices we have right now,' he said.