Fuel
New USDA program will provide one-time payments to offset harvest season diesel expenses during what officials call “temporary market disruptions” from US-Israeli war on Iran.
Sulfur prices have surged more than fivefold, threatening phosphate fertilizer production. With global supply tightening, farmers could face higher prices, or even fertilizer shortages, heading into the months ahead.
As diesel costs surge and margins shrink, forward-thinking producers are discovering that managing the fuel pump may be just as critical as managing the milk check.
U.S. milk production keeps climbing while softer dairy demand, higher feed costs and weaker beef-on-dairy returns put more pressure on margins heading into 2027.
Producers report mounting pressure from higher diesel, fertilizer and machinery expenses, alongside trade uncertainty and rural healthcare concerns, as policy impacts and election-year sentiment weigh on the farm economy.
As producers navigate financial strain and D.C. disconnect, realities such as steep input costs, trade frustrations and E15 limbo are becoming decisive factors shaping the rural vote.
Ken McCarty shares his 18-month, layered roadmap for locking in 90% of fuel needs — a scalable strategy for any dairy looking to protect margins and eliminate energy market worry time.
Diesel prices are just 20 cents from a record high, with multiple states already setting new records. Experts warn relief is uncertain as prices could remain elevated through 2026.
Strait of Hormuz disruptions and refinery attacks drive fuel costs higher as farmers face a 2026 planting season crunch.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin proposes rescinding the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding. If the proposal goes into effect, it could potentially lead to DEF systems no longer being required in tractors, trucks and other equipment using diesel-powered engines — a decision many farmers and others in the ag community would applaud.