As fall harvest gets underway, western Pennsylvania farmer Rick Telesz is hoping a promising soybean crop will cover the mounting cost of growing it. Even with good yields, he expects to be fortunate if his corn and soybean operation breaks even. Telesz farms about 700 acres and also raises dairy cows. He says diesel now costs him about $6 a gallon, and his combine uses roughly 150 gallons a day. Equipment used to dry grain adds to the fuel bill. Fertilizer prices have also risen, while farmers have little ability to pass those added costs on to buyers. “It’s a cost that a farmer can’t pass on,” Telesz said. “It’s real. It’s painful.” Across the country, fertilizer prices are up 15% from last year and diesel prices have climbed 80%, according to figures reported in September. The increases are linked in part to the U.S. war with Iran, adding pressure to farmers already contending with the effects of trade tensions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects that farm revenue will grow this year as crop prices recover and producers sell more soybeans, corn and cotton. But higher operating costs are expected to absorb much of that increase. Producers of major row crops are projected to lose money in 2026 for the fourth consecutive year. Trade with China is another concern. China, historically the third-largest market for U.S. farm exports, cut purchases last year in response to U.S. tariffs. Soybean sales have partly recovered, but economist Chad Bown said purchases remain well below pre-2025 levels. He said exports of cotton, wheat, pork and beef were badly damaged last year and have shown no clear recovery. The strain is contributing to farm closures and financial distress. An American Farm Bureau Federation economist estimated that about 200,000 farms have shut down since 2020. For the 12 months ending in June, farm bankruptcies rose 19% from the previous year. Joe Peiffer, a bankruptcy attorney who works with farmers in Iowa, Missouri and Illinois, said many clients feel worn down by years of working without making money. Farmers who own land may sell acreage to stay afloat, but Peiffer described that as a last resort: family farmland, once sold, may not be available to buy back. For farmers like Telesz, the immediate calculation is whether this harvest can pay for the fuel, fertilizer and other supplies already used. Many are continuing to farm in hopes that input costs will ease and crop prices will improve before next season.