Rural voters heading into the midterms face a severe economic squeeze as fuel and fertilizer costs skyrocket, even as trade policy debates and unconventional local ventures reshape the heartland.
As Election Day approaches, agricultural communities across the United States are grappling with a convergence of economic pressures. The latest figures from AAA placed the average price of gasoline at $4.20 per gallon, while diesel prices reached $6.32. Though diesel remains below its September 22 high, the current rates have hit midwest farmers precisely as peak fall harvest demands maximum fuel consumption.
Diesel Price Spikes Drive Political Friction in Farm States
Aaron Lehman, president of the Iowa Farmers Union, is spending an additional $1,000 every single day to harvest and transport his crops, double his costs from 2025.
When I’m out there with farmers, and especially at harvest time, talking about an all-time high of diesel. This is because of this war in Iran. — Josh Turek
During a debate between Iowa’s U.S. Senate candidates, the crunch on farm bottom lines took center stage. Ashley Hinson emphasized the necessity of reducing energy and input costs across the board. Josh Turek pointed directly to the ongoing conflict in Iran as the catalyst for high diesel expenses.
Despite these financial hardships, political loyalties remain complex. In Kansas, where the Senate race is a toss-up between incumbent Republican Roger Marshall and challenger Adam Hamilton, farmer Ron Suppes acknowledged the severe strain on his operation. Yet, Suppes indicated he still supports the Trump administration’s war in Iran and plans to vote for Marshall, stating that immediate geopolitical action was deemed necessary.
Reflecting the intensity of the current crisis, the Iowa Farmers Union made the unusual move of endorsing all the Democrats running for Congress, breaking with tradition to demand a targeted response.
Economic Strains and the Debate Over USMCA Renewal
Beyond the fuel pump, broader economic indicators continue to shape voter sentiment. The Federal Reserve held its key interest rate steady following a quarter-point hike in September, while its preferred inflation gauge—the personal consumption expenditures index—climbed 0.5 percent for the month and 3.6 percent year-over-year. High borrowing costs have visibly cooled the housing market, with new home sales slipping 0.6 percent last month according to the Census Bureau.
Trade remains another critical pillar for rural commerce. Although the USMCA trade agreement is not on the ballot, its future is very much in play after the United States declined to renew the pact during its first joint review this summer. Ryan Young of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a free-market think tank that initially opposed the 2020 agreement, argued that the pact should now be renewed with structural simplifications.
Trade policy is in a very volatile place, and one thing that trade agreements offer is stability. — Ryan Young
Young warned that widespread tariffs and retaliatory measures are damaging export markets and inflating equipment prices for producers. The CEI advocates for streamlining the North American pact to focus strictly on core trade advantages—such as Mexican labor-intensive manufacturing, U.S. design, and Canadian energy and agriculture—while omitting complex provisions around intellectual property and labor conditions that often mire negotiations.
Landlocked Aquaculture Brings Shrimp to Iowa Farms
Amid these macroeconomic headwinds, some producers are diversifying their operations. Eric and Ann Franzenburg, who have maintained a diverse farm near Belle Plaine, Iowa, since 1992, recently completed their first shrimp harvest.
Eric Franzenburg noted the rigorous daily monitoring required to maintain water chemistry, including dissolved oxygen, pH levels, salinity, and ammonia. The farm receives post-larval shrimp—measuring about the size of an eyelash—flown in from Minnesota Shrimp LLC, and grows them to a harvestable size of 4 to 6 inches over roughly 100 days.
The couple plans an annual yield of approximately 7,000 pounds, marketing the seafood directly to local consumers at their farm store while utilizing the Midland Co-label as a frozen retail fallback.
