FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2026
Contact: minority_jecpress@jec.senate.gov 

America’s Farmers on Track to Spend $2.4 Billion More on Diesel Fuel Amid Trump’s Iran War

 National & State-by-State Data Show That Trump’s War with Iran Has Pushed Diesel Fuel Costs to Record Highs During the 2026 Harvest

WASHINGTON – American farmers are on track to spend an additional $2.4 billion on diesel fuel alone across this year’s spring planting and fall harvest seasons compared to last year, according to new data released today by the Joint Economic Committee - Minority. President Trump’s ongoing war with Iran has caused record-high diesel prices that peaked in many states during the fall harvest.

The report released today includes new calculations for the nation and for the 20 states with the largest increases in diesel costs for planting and harvesting the most common U.S. crops. It also includes state-by-state data on increased costs during the fall harvest to fill up a typical farm fuel tank, grain truck, or tractor. For instance, the Committee found:

• A $2.4 billion expected increase in diesel costs – a 68 percent jump – for the spring planting and fall harvest seasons for corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice

• The average farmer spent around $2,000 more to refill their farm’s onsite fuel tank this fall compared to the same high point during the 2025 harvest

“President Trump’s war with Iran has left American farmers to shoulder record-high diesel fuel costs,” said Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Committee. “Farmers depend on diesel fuel to plant and harvest their crops, and skyrocketing prices have added to their already tight margins. At the same time, families across the country continue to face high costs at the grocery store, putting even more pressure on household budgets.”

See below for the state-by-state data that show how much more it cost this fall harvest season to fill up a typical farm fuel tank, grain truck, or tractor amid Trump’s war with Iran.

Click here to see the top 20 states with the largest overall increase and percent increase in diesel fuel costs across both planting and harvest seasons this year.

Read the full report here.

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