US farmers struggle as record diesel prices threaten operations
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 7
US farmers struggle as record diesel prices threaten operations
10 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 7
During spring planting, New York, Colorado and North Carolina farmers reported diesel rising from about $2.65-$3.13 a gallon last year to $4.43-$6 now.
Farmers are cutting spending, delaying or altering planting, and may pass costs to consumers, while small family farms with thin margins face heightened risk of closure.
Black farmers are especially vulnerable because of weaker incomes, credit barriers and the cancellation of a $300m support programme, with the National Black Farmers Association citing nearly 200 pending foreclosure notices.
As farm costs skyrocket, are permanent price hikes and food shortages the new reality for American families?
With global supply chains failing, can the new Farm Bill truly make American farming self-sufficient and secure?
Can new tech like agrivoltaics break farming's deep reliance on fuel and volatile global markets?
Fertilizer and Fuel Price Shocks in 2026: US Farmers Face 70% Reduction in Full Fertilizer Use Amid Hormuz Conflict
Overview
The 2026 U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, drastically reducing oil and LNG flow and causing crude oil prices to surge above $100 per barrel. This disruption led to higher diesel and natural gas prices, sharply increasing fertilizer production costs and pushing fertilizer prices up by 30-49%. As a result, 70% of U.S. farmers cannot afford full fertilizer applications, forcing many to reduce usage and shift planting from corn to soybeans. These changes threaten crop yields and global food supplies, especially in vulnerable regions like Sub-Saharan Africa. In response, farmers adopt alternative practices while the government prepares aid and policy reforms to stabilize the agricultural sector amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.