# Farmers slam Trump over record diesel prices

> Diesel has hit all-time highs during harvest season, leaving farmers struggling to survive despite Trump's promises of energy dominance.
- Title: Farmers slam Trump over record diesel prices · Newsweek
- Summary: Diesel has hit all-time highs during harvest season, leaving farmers struggling to survive despite Trump's promises of energy dominance. Record diesel prices…
- Keywords: donald trump, farmers, diesel prices, harvest season, iran war, strait of hormuz, venezuela oil deal, farm bankruptcies, agricultural costs, john boyd, national black farmers association, usda
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/farmers-slam-trump-record-diesel-prices-cant-survive-12448846
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: donald trump, farmers, diesel prices, harvest season, iran war, strait of hormuz, venezuela oil deal, farm bankruptcies, agricultural costs, john boyd, national black farmers association, usda
## Diesel hits all-time high
Diesel surpassed $6 per gallon in early September and continues climbing, with some California stations approaching $10 per gallon as the Iran war and global pressures squeeze supply.
## Farmers can't afford to harvest
John Boyd, a Virginia farmer, pays $7 per gallon for diesel while harvesting corn for just $5 per bushel. His combine takes 140 gallons, costing nearly $1,000 per tank.

> we just can't survive
## Trump's energy promises fall short
Despite Trump claiming control of Venezuela's oil reserves and the Strait of Hormuz, diesel prices continue rising 37 cents per week, contradicting his promises to lower fuel costs.

> If true, why are we facing the highest diesel fuel prices in history!
## Farmers already spent billions more
During the 2026 planting season, farmers spent $1.4 billion more on diesel than the year before, a 63 percent jump in planting costs before prices spiked further.
## Farm bankruptcies mounting
Farmers face rising bankruptcies, trade policy shifts, and surging fertilizer and equipment costs. The American Farm Bureau Federation forecasts $31 billion in crop losses this year, rising to $32 billion in 2027.
## Trump's farm support eroding
Trump enjoyed strong farmer support before 2024, but his popularity has weakened due to inflation, tariffs, and now record diesel prices during harvest season.
## Harvest cuts into bottom line
Jason Kurtz, a Trump voter, says cash-strapped farms must cut costs to survive harvest. Diesel is non-negotiable, so high prices directly reduce profit margins.

> We have to harvest. We have to run the machines. We have to use the diesel, so it cuts into our bottom line.
## Key takeaway

Record diesel prices are crushing farm profits during peak harvest season, with farmers paying up to $1,000 per tank while earning minimal margins on crops.