Diesel prices squeeze Northeast Ohio farmers despite fuel relief orders

CHESTERLAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Diesel prices are up nearly $3 from last year, adding costs for farmers at Patterson Fruit Farm in Chesterland.

Bill Patterson, president of Patterson Fruit Farm, said the farms rely on vehicles that run on diesel.

“We have trucks, we have cars, we have vehicles. We have a lot of things on the road and it’s certainly costing us more money year after year,” Patterson said.

Row crop farmers feel more pressure

Patterson said large row crop farmers are feeling more financial pressure than fruit farms like his.

“Those costs are significantly impacted, as you think the combines and the tractors and running onto 1,000 acre fields where they’re harvesting,” Patterson said.

Executive orders target fuel costs

Patterson said two recently signed executive orders, one from President Donald Trump and one from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, will save farmers about 72 cents a gallon on red-dyed diesel. The executive orders allow farmers to use the red-dyed diesel not just on their farm, but on the roads and highways as well.

“Agriculture appreciates the recognition of these sort of non-market factors that are affecting the ability for farmers to be profitable,” Patterson said.

Price swings remain a stress factor

Patterson said higher fuel prices have not kept visitors away from the fruit farm. He said spikes in pricing remain a constant stress for farmers across Ohio.

“To have wild swings can really mess with the entire profitability. Just one giant swing in fertilizer can completely wipe out any type of profitability that a farm may have, literally day over day,” Patterson said.

President Trump and his administration have promised $8 billion in payments to farmers to help offset high diesel prices, which have been caused partly by the war in Iran. The exact timing of those payments is still unclear.