Higher diesel prices add $142/ha to U.S. apple harvest costs
Higher diesel prices in the U.S. have significantly increased harvest costs for agricultural producers. Farm diesel prices rose from $3.01/gallon in September 2025 to $5.61/gallon in September 2026, an increase of around 86%.
Apple growers faced the largest additional burden among the crops analyzed. According to Farm Bureau estimates, higher fuel prices added about $142.31/ha to apple harvest costs.
Other specialty crops were also affected. Additional diesel costs are estimated at $46.13/ha for almonds and $45.05/ha for potatoes.
Among field crops, rice saw the largest increase at around $34.59/ha. Additional costs were estimated at $19.72/ha for corn, $13.05/ha for cotton, $8.80/ha for soybeans and $6.18/ha for winter wheat.
High diesel prices are also raising logistics costs, including trucking, rail fuel surcharges and barge transportation. As a result, the overall impact of more expensive fuel on agricultural production costs could be even higher.
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