John Boyd Jr., a fourth-generation farmer from southwest Virginia, faces significant challenges due to rising diesel costs. Boyd, who grows soybeans, corn, and wheat, and raises beef cattle, spent around $1,000 filling his tractor. He expresses concern as diesel now costs about $7 a gallon, nearly double the price from the previous year.
The national average for diesel has increased to over $6.51 per gallon, based on data from AAA. This surge coincides with economic impacts from the war with Iran. The previous diesel price record, approximately $5.85 per gallon, was exceeded in early September.
“This is a national farm crisis for farmers,” said Boyd during an NPR interview. “I’m having to come up with money that’s really not in the budget.”
Without diesel storage on his farm, Boyd fills a truck with several hundred gallons each time, transferring it to his combine. He describes the financial strain using an expression from his father: “robbing Peter to pay Paul.” Funds from other farm expenses shift to cover fuel costs, leaving no space to absorb additional costs.
Corn sells for about $5 per bushel, creating a financial challenge for Boyd, who must also pay for the diesel required to harvest it. He explains how increased fuel expenses compound existing financial pressures for farmers. Over 400 Black farmers face the risk of losing their farms and require financial support.
“A lot of these farmers voted for this president,” Boyd noted, “but now they find themselves losing their farm with no help from the administration.”
Diesel price increases reflect a global fuel crunch exacerbated by conflict in the Middle East. U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, occurring on February 28, led to disruptions in oil shipments, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz. These events pushed crude prices higher and limited U.S., European, and Asian diesel supplies, tightening fuel markets.
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