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Rising fuel and fertilizer costs are hitting U.S. producers differently, with smaller operations feeling the squeeze

An ag economist says the rise in input costs is impacting producers differently.  Josh Maples with Mississippi State University Extension says larger producers likely purchased fuel and fertilizer at the end of 2025. “However, I would say a lot of smaller producers don’t do that,” he says.  “And so this is a spot here where we may see a bit of differences between size of operation and the relative impact it has on their operation.”

He tells Brownfield for those producers who have yet to make the bulk of their input purchases for 2026. “Unless we see some pretty sharp reductions, it’s going to be at a much higher cost than you were probably expecting a few months ago,” he says. 

For the first time in four years, the national average price for fuel exceeds $4 per gallon.  The national average for diesel is at $5.68 per gallon, up 18-cents from last week and more than $2 higher than year-ago levels.