This post is part of a series chronicling news coverage of rising gas prices in the United States. See more here.
Michigan's WZZM reports that rising diesel and nitrogen prices are squeezing local farmers
Michigan farmer: “The diesel will definitely cost us more to put crops in. ... we'll probably take a hit on our bottom line.”
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From an April 29, 2026, video shared to the website of WZZM
JULIET DRAGOS (ANCHOR): Gasoline prices are up to $4.99 a gallon today in parts of West Michigan. Diesel prices are climbing faster than unleaded gas, up 45 to 50% over the past two months. The price impacts consumers and businesses, including Michigan farmers. 13 on Your Side's Rick Dorsey looks at the impact on the state's agriculture industry.
RIC DORSEY (REPORTER): From the grocery store to the gas pump, many Americans are feeling the pinch of higher prices. Rising costs also impact farmers like Dennis Kellogg, a sixth-generation soybean farmer in Ithaca.
DENNIS KELLOGG (SIXTH GENERATION FARMER): The diesel will definitely cost us more to put crops in because of the diesel. Our markets are not going to reflect the higher costs that we haven't, that we're going to incur. And so therefore, we'll probably take a hit on our bottom line.
DORSEY: Diesel prices have seen a steady increase over the last few months.
THERESA SISUNG (MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU'S COMMODITY AND REGULATORY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT): We're seeing here in Michigan, diesel prices for on-farm diesel, those are up by more than 30% since the end of March.
DORSEY: And not just diesel. Higher nitrogen costs mean fertilizer prices have also seen an uptick.
KELLOGG: The price of urea, which is nitrogen. I've been told we haven't bought any at this point, but it is currently over $700 a ton. And prior to the, let's say back in February, you could have bought it for around $320 to $350 a ton. So that effectively has doubled in price.
DORSEY: As a member of the Michigan Farmers Union, Kellogg is calling for legislative change to help not only his sixth-generation family farm, but other locally owned farms as well.
KELLOGG: All the way through the whole agricultural spectrum. We're seeing increases right along. And the downside to it is that, because of the tariffs and what we call the trade war that's going on, we worked for policy change. We're currently working, advocating that we need a new farm bill and we need that to be a comprehensive farm bill that will cover the needs of the family farm unit.
DORSEY: Despite operational costs continuing to rise, staying positive and hopeful is the true mark of a farmer.
SISUNG: Say everyone involved in agriculture, farmers especially, have to be an optimist. If you were not an optimist, you wouldn't be able to continue farming because it's challenging.
DORSEY: And as for the Kellogg family. It's more of a labor of love.
KELLOGG: It's a challenge each year to make ends meet, but we keep doing it because this is our life, we enjoy it, and it's just part of our DNA.