Forest City, Mo. – Diesel fuel has reached record levels, climbing to an average of $6.05 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). The spike comes at a crucial time for Missouri farmers who need diesel to run combines, tractors and trucks for the soybean and corn harvest.
Impact on local growers
Jason Kurtz, a 49‑year‑old corn and soybean farmer who lives about 90 miles outside Kansas City, says he is paying roughly twice as much for diesel as he did last year. “We have to harvest,” Kurtz told reporters. “We have to run the machines. We have to use the diesel, so it cuts into our bottom line.” His combine consumes about 200 gallons of fuel a day, and he expected to operate it for 30 days during the peak of the harvest.
Kurtz, who voted for President Donald Trump, noted that his finances are already tight after higher costs for fertilizer and chemicals. He plans to postpone some farm work in hopes that diesel prices will fall later in the season.
Broader regional pressure
Paul Mitchell, a professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin‑Madison, warned that the rising fuel costs are hurting not only harvesting but also the hauling of grain and silage from fields to storage and market. “Farms that are cash‑strapped are the ones that have to figure out what to cut to make this work,” Mitchell said.
American diesel prices are now about 60% higher than they were before the U.S. and Israel launched their war against Iran in late February, when the national average was roughly $3.76 per gallon. The conflict has disrupted tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global oil shipments, driving up crude oil prices—the primary ingredient in diesel.
Economic context for Missouri agriculture
Missouri’s agricultural sector, a major contributor to the state’s economy, relies heavily on diesel‑powered equipment. Higher fuel costs add to an already challenging year for growers who have faced increased prices for fertilizer, seeds and equipment.
While the Trump administration has emphasized energy independence and has taken steps to increase domestic fuel production, the current geopolitical situation underscores the vulnerability of fuel markets to overseas conflicts. Officials have not yet announced specific relief measures for farmers facing these elevated costs.
Looking ahead
Farmers like Kurtz remain hopeful that diesel prices will ease as the war stabilizes and global oil supplies normalize. In the meantime, many are adjusting planting schedules, reducing acreage or seeking alternative financing to keep operations afloat.
For Missouri’s farming community, the coming weeks will be a test of resilience as they balance the need to bring crops to market with the reality of record‑high fuel expenses.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
