Rising diesel prices squeeze farm profits as Iowa and Kansas farmers weigh their midterm votes.
High Diesel Prices Pressure Farmers Ahead of Midterm Elections
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Higher diesel and fertilizer prices are squeezing farm profit margins ahead of the midterm elections. Farmers in Iowa and Kansas discuss rising harvest costs, the war in Iran and whether those pressures will change their votes. Peter Tubbs reports on the debate over farm input costs and the differing political responses across the Corn Belt.
Transcript
The ongoing war in Iran may be influencing the midterm elections in the Corn Belt. Over the last eight months, farmers have seen the price of inputs go up including a doubling of diesel fuel prices. The increases are squeezing producers already up against tight profit margins.
Aaron Lehman, President, Iowa Farmers Union: “The prices for fertilizer and diesel spiked dramatically, and we've seen that continue all the way through to our inputs for harvest and what the fertilizer for next year.”
Aaron Lehman is president of the Iowa Farmers Union. He’s spending an additional $1,000 every day to harvest and transport his crop, double his cost from 2025.
The topic of diesel prices and the pressure on farmers led off a debate held between Iowa’s U.S. Senate candidates.
Ashley Hinson, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate: “You talk about farmers and how we can help them. It is about their bottom line and doing whatever we can to reduce energy costs, input costs across the board.”
Josh Turek, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate: “...when I'm out there with farmers, and especially at harvest time, talking about an all time high of diesel, this is because of this war in Iran.”
But high fuel prices could be a reason rural Americans, many of whom have supported Trump’s policies, will vote against the Republicans on this year’s ballot.
The Iran war and the rising price of diesel is being felt for farmers across the heartland.
In Kansas - the U.S. Senate race is a Toss Up with incumbent Republican Roger Marshall facing a strong challenge from pastor Adam Hamilton.
Despite the impact on his farm, Ron Suppes says he supports the Trump administration’s war in Iran and will vote for Marshall.
Ron Suppes, Kansas wheat dealer: “I'm surprised that all of this happened before the election, but I think they ran into a situation where we need to do something now or never.”
In a break from tradition, the Iowa Farmers Union has endorsed all the Democrats running for Congress.
Aaron Lehman, President, Iowa Farmers Union: “That's unusual for us. But our farmers are facing such a huge crisis. We really expect to have an Iowa response to that.”
Low profits on Iowa’s farms have a ripple effect through the economy as a whole. It’s part of the reason economic growth in Iowa has lagged behind its six neighboring states and the country at large for a decade.
Aaron Lehman, President, Iowa Farmers Union: “I think people are really starting to have a conversation, and a lot of people are saying, ‘I need to reconsider.’.”
For Market to Market, I’m Peter Tubbs
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