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Diesel prices hurting farmers, but solution isn't simple
A July estimate put Illinois planting diesel costs $163 million higher than last year, and harvest prices are now even higher, officials said.
- As harvest season begins, Illinois farmers face rising diesel costs, with expenses for planting major crops reaching $163 million more in 2026 than last year—an increase of nearly 80%, according to a July estimate by the Democratic staff of Congress's Joint Economic Committee.
- Mounting price pressures have prompted calls for an embargo on American diesel exports, a proposal President Donald Trump said he supports considering to increase domestic supply and lower costs.
- Potential retaliation against farmers remains a risk of using export restrictions as bargaining tools, while interconnected regional diesel markets complicate efforts to move excess fuel domestically.
- Illinois lawmakers are currently considering the Family Farm Preservation Act, which would raise the estate tax threshold for qualifying farm estates from $4 million to $6 million to help families retain operations.
- Beyond fuel costs, Gov. JB Pritzker announced a trade cooperation agreement with Indonesia to expand Illinois soybean exports, while John Deere was required by a Federal Trade Commission settlement to provide farmers improved equipment repair access.
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25 Articles
Missoulian+23 Reposted by 23 other sources
Diesel prices hurting farmers, but solution isn't simple
Diesel prices are at record levels nationwide, and farmers have been hit especially hard.
·Missoula, United States
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Total News Sources25
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center22Last UpdatedBias Distribution88% Center
Bias Distribution
- 88% of the sources are Center
88% Center
12%
C 88%
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