WASHINGTON, DC – Diesel prices are adding pressure to fall farm expenses as harvest activity expands, with the national average nearly $6 per gallon and more than $2 above last year.
The Energy Information Administration says on-highway diesel averaged $5.967 per gallon September 7, up 36.8 cents from the previous week. Diesel was $2.201 per gallon higher than the comparable week in 2025.
West Texas Intermediate crude reached $92.69 per barrel September 4, up $8.12 for the week and $30.47 from a year earlier. New York Harbor ultra-low sulfur diesel reached $4.549 per gallon.
The increase comes as farmers enter a fuel-intensive period involving combines, tractors, grain trucks, irrigation equipment, and input transportation. Higher diesel prices can quickly raise harvest, drying, hauling, and livestock transportation expenses.
Distillate inventories increased 2.1 million barrels to 106.3 million but remained 13% below the five-year average. Four-week distillate demand was also 2.6% below last year, leaving producers balancing weaker consumption against tight inventories and elevated crude prices.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Diesel near $6 per gallon raises harvest and transportation costs while adding another expense to already-tight farm margins.