FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

July 23, 2026 

Contact: minority_jecpress@jec.senate.gov

America’s Farmers Spent $1.4 Billion More on Diesel Fuel Amid Trump’s Iran War

Nationwide & State-by-State Data Show That This Spring Planting Season, Trump’s War with Iran, Tariffs, & Other Actions Led to Skyrocketing Costs for Farmers

WASHINGTON – As oil prices hit $100 a barrel this morning amid President Trump’s war with Iran, the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee – Minority released a new report today that found that American farmers spent $1.4 billion more on diesel fuel during this year’s spring planting season than they did last year.

Trump’s war with Iran has caused diesel prices to skyrocket, which has harmed farmers at a time when they already face increased costs and new challenges due to Trump’s tariffs. The report released today includes new calculations nationwide and for the 20 states with the largest increases in diesel costs for planting key crops. It also includes state-by-state data that show how much more it cost this spring to fill up a typical farm fuel tank, grain truck, or tractor amid Trump’s war with Iran. For instance, the Committee found: 

• A $1.4 billion increase in diesel costs – a 63 percent jump – this spring nationwide for farmers to plant key crops: corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice
• The average farmer spent as much as $1,500 more to refill their farm’s onsite fuel tank compared to the same high point during the 2025 planting season

“President Trump campaigned on lowering costs for farmers, but his actions have instead done the opposite,” said U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, Ranking Member of the Committee. “Farmers rely on millions of gallons of diesel fuel during their critical spring planting season, which came just as Trump launched his war with Iran that has caused costs to skyrocket. And in addition to harming farmers directly, families all throughout the country feel the impact of these higher prices as grocery costs continue to rise.”

“Farmers have already been battling high input costs and President Trump's ongoing war in the Middle East is further raising diesel costs,” said U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and member of the Joint Economic Committee. “American farmers have been left paying the price. Minnesota farmers are spending over $1,400 more on diesel since last year. Americans want lower prices, not costly wars with no strategic path forward.” 

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

State	Increase in Cost to Fill Up Typical Farm Fuel Tank	Increase in Cost to Fill Up Typical Grain Truck	Increase in Cost to Fill Up Typical Tractor
Alabama	+$1,533	+$204	+$249
Alaska	+$1,694	+$226	+$275
Arizona	+$1,783	+$238	+$290
Arkansas	+$1,436	+$191	+$234
California	+$2,037	+$272	+$331
Colorado	+$1,680	+$224	+$273
Connecticut	+$1,474	+$197	+$240
Delaware	+$1,710	+$228	+$278
Florida	+$1,598	+$213	+$260
Georgia	+$1,338	+$178	+$218
Idaho	+$1,498	+$200	+$244
Illinois	+$1,785	+$238	+$290
Indiana	+$1,804	+$241	+$294
Iowa	+$1,530	+$204	+$249
Kansas	+$1,440	+$192	+$234
Kentucky	+$1,460	+$195	+$237
Louisiana	+$1,502	+$200	+$244
Maine	+$1,476	+$197	+$240
Maryland	+$1,702	+$227	+$277
Massachusetts	+$1,459	+$195	+$237
Michigan	+$1,850	+$247	+$301
Minnesota	+$1,497	+$200	+$243
Mississippi	+$1,484	+$198	+$241
Missouri	+$1,506	+$201	+$245
Montana	+$1,564	+$208	+$254
Nebraska	+$1,431	+$191	+$233
Nevada	+$1,794	+$239	+$292
New Hampshire	+$1,455	+$194	+$237
New Jersey	+$1,632	+$218	+$265
New Mexico	+$1,541	+$205	+$251
New York	+$1,494	+$199	+$243
North Carolina	+$1,601	+$213	+$260
North Dakota	+$1,465	+$195	+$238
Ohio	+$1,815	+$242	+$295
Oklahoma	+$1,426	+$190	+$232
Oregon	+$1,731	+$231	+$282
Pennsylvania	+$1,592	+$212	+$259
Rhode Island	+$1,520	+$203	+$247
South Carolina	+$1,540	+$205	+$250
South Dakota	+$1,480	+$197	+$241
Tennessee	+$1,517	+$202	+$247
Texas	+$1,556	+$207	+$253
Utah	+$1,537	+$205	+$250
Vermont	+$1,479	+$197	+$241
Virginia	+$1,514	+$202	+$246
Washington	+$1,878	+$250	+$306
West Virginia	+$1,518	+$202	+$247
Wisconsin	+$1,772	+$236	+$288
Wyoming	+$1,528	+$204	+$249
United States	+$1,538	+$205	+$250
Sources: AAA, Energy Information Administration, and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Notes: Figures are based on peak diesel prices during the 2025 and 2026 planting seasons for corn, soybeans, spring wheat, cotton, and rice in each state. The calculations assume fuel tank capacities of 750 gallons for a farm fuel tank, 100 gallons for a grain truck (based on a dual-tank International 4900 tandem-axle grain truck) and 122 gallons for a tractor (based on the John Deere Series 7R 250 model). The per-gallon diesel price used to estimate the farm fuel tank and tractor cost increases excludes the state and federal taxes levied on diesel for highway use. AK values are based on the historical planting season for spring barley.

Click here to see the top 20 states with the largest overall increase and by percent increase in planting diesel costs this spring.

Read the full report here.

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