Agricultural diesel (off-road, dyed diesel) is priced at $3.40–$3.90 per gallon in spring 2026 — up 5–12% from a year ago. EIA tracks on-highway diesel as a proxy, with farm prices typically running $0.20–$0.40 below on-highway prices due to the absence of road tax. At typical corn production fuel consumption of 5–7 gallons/acre, diesel adds $17–$27/acre to corn production costs.
Current Signal: HOLD
Year-over-year change: +5–12%
| Market / Region | Price Range |
|---|---|
| On-highway diesel (EIA) | $3.60 – $4.10/gal |
| Off-road/farm diesel (est.) | $3.40 – $3.90/gal |
| Corn fuel use (5.5 gal/ac) | $18.70 – $21.45/acre |
| Soybean fuel use (4.5 gal/ac) | $15.30 – $17.55/acre |
Diesel prices are directly linked to crude oil prices. WTI crude has averaged $78–$88/barrel in early 2026, supporting diesel in the $3.40–$3.90/gallon range. Any Middle East supply disruption or OPEC production cut would transmit directly to farm diesel costs.
Spring planting (April–May) and fall harvest (September–November) concentrate diesel demand. Custom operators and co-op delivery costs rise during these windows, adding $0.05–$0.15/gallon to seasonal farm prices.
Propane prices (used for grain drying) have tracked diesel upward. High-moisture corn crops in 2025 required above-average drying, increasing total energy cost per bushel beyond just field operations.
Higher diesel costs increase the freight component of all delivered farm inputs — fertilizer, seed, crop protection. This creates a secondary cost pressure beyond direct field diesel consumption.
Off-road agricultural diesel is approximately $3.40–$3.90/gallon in spring 2026. EIA publishes weekly on-highway diesel prices, which run $0.20–$0.40 above farm prices.
Full corn production (tillage, planting, fertilizer application, harvest) uses approximately 5–7 gallons of diesel per acre. Irrigated corn or conservation-till operations vary significantly from this average.
Agricultural diesel (dyed red) is exempt from federal and most state highway fuel taxes. This saves $0.24+ per gallon in federal excise tax alone. Using dyed diesel in on-highway vehicles is illegal and carries penalties.
Diesel price increases cascade into all delivered input costs. A $0.30/gallon increase in diesel adds approximately $0.50–$0.80/ton to fertilizer delivery costs and $0.02–$0.04/bushel to grain hauling costs.
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