Record Diesel Prices Squeeze Iowa Farmers Amid Harvest Season

Diesel prices have hit a record high of $5.85 per gallon in the US, according to GasBuddy, as Iowa farmers begin their harvest season.

The national average is more than $2 higher than last year's price, and this increase has come at the worst possible time for farmers.

'Well, these high diesel fuel prices couldn't have come at a worse time,' said farmer Steve Swenka. 'We're right on the threshold of harvest and this is the time we're getting our equipment topped off ready to tackle this harvest.'

Many farmers had held off buying fuel in hopes that prices would fall before harvest, but this has now raised concerns about whether fuel will be readily available when needed.

'Hardly any farmers have fuel on hand for this fall,' said Dan Keitzer, vice president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. 'Everybody's kind of waiting for the same thing.'

Farmers may be able to find small ways to use less fuel, but they cannot avoid the essential work of harvesting crops and hauling grain.