Diesel Prices Soar, Hitting Farmers Hard

0:00It's March 25th. Welcome in. This is Kansas News today, where local news meets AI. I'm Cory with the story. Diesel prices are staying high because of tensions between the United States and Iran, and it's hitting farmers right in the wallet as planting season. Kicks off. Farmers rely on diesel every day for tractors, planting, and harvesting, just like drivers do for their cars. Now they're facing extra costs on fertilizers and seeds too, since shipping those depends on fuel prices. Local farmers in places like Missouri say they've been dealing with ups and downs for over 70 years, but this feels different. Many didn't stock up on supplies ahead, expecting cheaper rates, and now they're scrambling with shortages and jumps of 10 to 15 percent. Experts note the Middle East handles 10 to 15 percent of global fertilizer trade, so disruptions ripple fast. Crop insurance offers some help, but it's based on older prices from February, making it less useful this time around. As a result, many are switching to lower fuel crops, like soybeans or hay instead of

1:04corn or cotton. These changes could reshape fields this spring and ease some pain amid the uncertainty.