Record-setting prices on diesel fuel, coupled with soaring inflation and the ongoing war in Ukraine, could lead to food shortages in the US, farmers warned."For so long, we’ve enjoyed lots of food in this country, so we’ve never ever faced a food shortage and I think that’s coming in the coming months," John Boyd Jr., president of the National Black Farmers Association, said during an interview on NewsNation’s On Balance with Leland Vittert on Monday,
Average diesel prices in the US Monday reached $5.7 per gallon, representing a $2.4 increase compared to the same period last year.
Farmers disproportionately rely on diesel to fuel up their tractors and other heavy machinery used to plant and harvest crops, burning up to thousands of gallons a month, depending on the size of their operation.
Feeling the pinch at the pump, farmers can decide to stop planting certain crops to save money on fuel, which, in turn, could result in higher food prices and even food shortages.