Full Breakdown
Rising Diesel Prices Threaten Harvests in Chautauqua County
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Record-High Diesel Costs Pressure Local Farms
Farmers in Chautauqua County are confronting the steepest diesel prices ever recorded in the United States. The national average reached a record $6.51 per gallon, a 3.9 % rise from July to August. For operations that run almost entirely on diesel, the jump translates into dramatic expense spikes.
Global Fuel Disruptions and Trade Tensions
The surge follows a series of geopolitical events that have tightened global fuel supplies. Since the onset of the Iran-related conflict in February, shipping lanes in the Gulf of Oman have seen heightened activity, as documented in an AP photo taken on June 16, 2026. Additional strain stems from recent clashes involving Houthi rebels in Yemen and retaliatory tariffs imposed by Canada after the United States levied tariffs on Canadian imports earlier this year.
Financial Impact on Schofield Farms
Chad Schofield, owner of Schofield Farms LLC in Sherman, reports that 98 % of his business relies on diesel. Refilling his 10,000-gallon tank cost $23,000 in February, but the same refill reached $56,000 during the current grape-harvest season. Schofield says the higher fuel bill, combined with rising fertilizer costs, has erased margins that previously existed in the commodity market.
Official Statements & Responses
President Trump addressed the fuel issue, acknowledging the price increase as a modest cost of recent policy actions. Schofield, while appreciative of earlier subsidies, argues that short-term aid does not replace the need for more stable agricultural policy. He also warns that continued cost growth could jeopardize the 85 local jobs his farm currently employs.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Any margins that did exist, especially in the commodity business, have all but vanished,” — Chad Schofield
- “ "To set the price of our product primarily in the form of corn has a huge effect on dairy prices as well.” — Chad Schofield
- “You have a little higher. It's a very low price to pay for what we've done. Remember that. It's a little more. Frankly, even if it was a lot more.” — President Trump
- “I think in general a lot of the agricultural community has figured out in the last several months that everybody needs to be careful who they vote for,” — Chad Schofield