Chuck Grassley Presses Trump as Iowa Diesel Prices Hit Record High
Diesel has continued climbing further above $6 per gallon amid ongoing supply issues sparked by the Iran war.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley has urged President Donald Trump to halt diesel exports, claiming the rising costs are "KILLING FARMERS INCOME". The national average price for diesel has surpassed $6 per gallon, hitting an all-time high of $6.51 on Sunday. In Iowa, diesel prices have soared to $6.29 a gallon, up from $5.35 a month ago.
This price increase has created hardships for farmers and could hurt American food supplies, especially as they prepare for the busy harvest season. According to Newsweek, U.S. households have spent an extra $50 billion on diesel since the start of the Iran war, causing prices to rise around 77 percent. Grassley suggests a ban on exports similar to those used in the 1970s, referencing President Nixon's embargo on soybean exports during food price inflation.
Trump insists the U.S. is winning the war in Iran and has control of the Strait of Hormuz, but John Boyd, founder of the National Black Farmers Association, argues that farmers are suffering and losing profit margins. The Department of Agriculture maintains that Trump is addressing the temporary challenge, and a temporary export ban has gained support from other Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Tennessee Representative Tim Burchett, who proposed a ban until January 2027.
However, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum doubts that a ban would help farmers or households and could even harm Americans through potential retribution from other countries. The oil industry trade association argues that export bans would reduce U.S. fuel production, increase prices, and weaken energy security.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
