American farmers spent significantly more on diesel fuel during this year’s planting season. A new study by Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee found producers spent an estimated 1-point-4 billion dollars more on diesel during the 2025-2026 planting season than they did a year earlier. That’s a 63 percent increase in fuel costs for planting major crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and rice.

<p>By: NATHAN STUEDLE</p><p>American farmers spent significantly more on diesel fuel during this year’s planting season. A new study by Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee found producers spent an estimated 1-point-4 billion dollars more on diesel during the 2025-2026 planting season than they did a year earlier. That’s a 63 percent increase in fuel costs for planting major crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and rice.</p>

Farmers spend $1.4 billion more on diesel