How a national farm leader is dealing with record diesel prices

John Boyd Jr., left, and filmmaker Josh Tickell speak at the Washington premiere of "Common Ground" on Nov. 13, 2023. Boyd is a fourth-generation Virginia farmer and president of the National Black Farmers Association. Paul Morigi/Getty Images hide caption

John Boyd Jr. filled up his tractor on Saturday. The bill was roughly $1,000.

Boyd, a fourth-generation farmer in southwest Virginia, grows soybeans, corn and wheat and raises beef cattle. He is in the middle of harvesting corn. During this time of year, his combines and other heavy equipment run constantly.

Now, he says, diesel is costing him about $7 a gallon, nearly double what he was paying a year ago.

The national average for diesel has climbed to more than $6.51 a gallon, according to AAA, another economic consequence of the war with Iran. The previous record, about $5.85 a gallon, was broken at the beginning of September.

"This is a national farm crisis for farmers," Boyd told NPR's Morning Edition . "I'm having to come up with money that's really not in the budget."

For Boyd, who is also founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association , there is little choice but to pay. He doesn't store diesel on his farm, so he fills a truck with a couple hundred gallons at a time, brings it back and transfers the fuel into his combine.

"I'm, as my daddy would say, robbing Peter to pay Paul," Boyd said, describing how he is shifting money from other farm expenses to cover the soaring cost of fuel.