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Iowa farmer says fuel costs are reaching critical levels

A southwest Iowa farmer says over-the-road diesel costs are adding up fast.

Duane Aistrope says he booked 75% of his fall needs back in January.

“Everybody knows what’s happened since then,” he said. “That was kind of a good move. I don’t have any truck fuel, or clear fuel, for over the road. It’s booked. I don’t have a barrel for it or nothing. Boy that’s getting into my pocket every time I move that truck up and down the road.”

He tells Brownfield prices were recently above $6.30 per gallon in his area.

“I was hauling some grain the last couple of weeks, some old (crop) grain, and I was putting in $400 every day. That adds up fast. When my wife saw my credit card bill she about had a cow.”

Aistrope says he’s hopeful Iowa will follow Nebraska’s lead to help provide some relief at the pump.

“They took the state fuel tax off their fuel for farmers,” he said. “It’s only about 30 cents I believe, but every penny helps when the diesel is this high.”

AAA says the national average for diesel was $6.45 per gallon as of Monday, up from $3.68 this time last year.

Duane Aistrope: