LODI, Wis. — Southern Wisconsin farmers are entering the fall harvest with diesel prices above $6 a gallon, adding another major expense to the work of bringing in corn and soybeans. U.S. Energy Information Administration data shows Midwest diesel prices have climbed past that threshold in recent weeks. The timing is especially difficult for growers, who use large quantities of fuel to operate tractors and combines and to transport crops by semi-truck. For Lodi farmer Terry Quam, the fuel bill is an immediate concern. His operation has about 300 acres of corn to harvest, along with soybeans. A combine can use roughly 100 gallons of diesel in a day, and Quam said the machine may need to be refueled daily for about two weeks. He also cited a recent diesel price of $6.36 a gallon for a semi-truck in Montana. The truck’s tank holds more than 100 gallons, making each stop at the pump a significant expense. Quam said fuel has become one of the main issues farmers are weighing as harvest begins. He is concerned that higher transportation and production costs could move through the supply chain and ultimately increase prices for consumers. Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden said the rapid increase has left many farmers uncertain about their financial outlook. Costs can rise quickly during harvest, while farmers have limited control over the prices they receive for their crops. The pressure extends beyond agriculture. Commercial fleets across the region are also paying more to operate, and fuel costs can affect delivery companies, businesses and public-facing services that rely on diesel vehicles. Steve Jastrow, senior vice president of strategic advisory and data analytics at Element Fleet Management, said fleet operators can reduce some consumption through practical changes such as limiting idling, avoiding rapid acceleration and improving route planning. Monitoring driver behavior and optimizing routes can provide more immediate savings than replacing vehicles, he said. Moving commercial fleets to electric vehicles could offer longer-term protection from volatile diesel prices, but that transition requires time, infrastructure and substantial upfront investment. For farmers facing harvest deadlines now, reducing fuel use can help—but it cannot eliminate the need to keep heavy equipment running in the fields.