Story perspectives

Rising Diesel Prices Threaten Spring Planting for Farmers

3/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Rising diesel prices threaten spring planting for farmers in Murfreesboro, Tennessee as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz push fuel costs higher, with diesel averaging $4.83 per gallon.
Will Hutchinson, a local farmer in Murfreesboro, notes that high fuel prices affect both field operations and transportation costs.
He emphasizes energy independence as a cushion against such crises.
In 2023, crude oil accounted for over 75% of U.S. petroleum imports.

1 of 1

Story summary

Rising diesel prices threaten spring planting for farmers in Murfreesboro, Tennessee as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz push fuel costs higher, with diesel averaging $4.83 per gallon.
Will Hutchinson, a local farmer in Murfreesboro, notes that high fuel prices affect both field operations and transportation costs.
He emphasizes energy independence as a cushion against such crises.
In 2023, crude oil accounted for over 75% of U.S. petroleum imports.