Rising cost of diesel fuel adds stress to local farmers

MARSHALL COUNTY, Ind. -- As farmers prepare for harvest, rising diesel costs are putting additional pressure on local farm operations.

Charlie Houin, owner of Houin Grain Farms, says the farm has seen its fuel expenses almost triple.

Before the war in Iran and spike in diesel prices, Houin says running one of his 40-gallon tractors cost the farm around $500 a day. Now, with diesel prices around $6 a gallon, that same tractor can cost about $1,800 to use for a day.

But Houin says diesel isn’t the only expense that’s increased. The farm is also paying more for replacement parts.

“They’re shipping them [equipment] in from China, Europe, Vietnam,” Houin says.

“The tariffs [affect] those parts, so we’re getting a 100 percent markup in pricing.”

Houin says some replacement parts can now cost twice than what they originally costed. Looking ahead, Houin says he hopes to see a resolution to conflict in the Middle East, because while his farm is still afloat, he knows other farmers severely struggling.