Farm Groups Praise Trump’s Diesel Tax Relief Order
By Mariah Squire Published on October 6, 2026
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday aimed at expanding farmers’ access to dyed diesel and providing temporary fuel tax relief, and industry groups are praising the move.
The news comes during a harvest season when producers are facing record diesel prices. Some states had already taken steps to provide farmers relief.
“While the Administration has structurally changed the energy sector to secure the long-term future of agriculture, we are now taking steps to deal with short-term pressures impacting our American farmers,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, in a statement Monday.
Here’s how agriculture and fuel groups reacted.
American Farm Bureau Federation
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is the nation’s largest farmer-run organization and serves farmers in all 50 states.
“We thank President Trump for recognizing that what happens at the fuel pump directly affects what happens on the farm and therefore at dinner tables across America,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall, in a statement. “Allowing dyed diesel fuel to be used over-the-road will bring welcome relief for farmers because every cent per gallon matters when you’re running a fleet of grain trucks or hauling cattle hundreds of miles.
“As we detailed in a letter to the president last week, this effort will bring much-needed price relief for farmers as they work to complete harvest across the U.S. The federal highway diesel tax is currently more than 24¢ per gallon, so it’s a big deal to farmers to be able to use tax-exempt diesel more broadly to get their harvest to market. We appreciate that the president listened to farmers and responded.”
American Soybean Association
The American Soybean Association (ASA) represents U.S. soybean farmers on domestic and international policy issues. ASA has 26 affiliate state associations representing 30 soybean-producing states and nearly 500,000 soybean farmers.
“As U.S. soybean farmers move the 2026 harvest to market, ASA thanks President Trump for his executive order that seeks to address high fuel costs impacting our bottom lines,” said ASA Vice President Dave Walton, an Iowa soybean farmer, in a statement. “This policy will align with actions taken by many soybean-producing states already, and ASA is encouraged by the administration’s continued focus on agricultural affordability.”
RELATED: Diesel Price Spike Squeezes Corn Harvest Margins as Combine Fuel Costs Up to $12.58 an Acre
Fueling American Jobs Coalition
The Fueling American Jobs Coalition (FAJC) is a coalition of union workers and independent American oil refiners fighting for a commonsense fix to the EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard.
“We welcome President Trump’s decision not to restrict U.S. diesel exports, which would have forced American refiners to reduce production,” said FAJC in a statement. “Refineries produce gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other products simultaneously. Forcing refiners to cut diesel runs would have meant less gasoline, jet fuel, and heating oil when supplies are already tight.
“Allowing red-dyed diesel to be used on the roadways and providing temporary tax relief is a much more effective option to provide some relief for diesel consumers. We encourage the Administration and Congress to build on this policy and work to advance another option to provide immediate relief on diesel costs: adjusting and reforming the federal biofuel mandate, which has been adding 30–40¢ per gallon to gasoline and diesel fuel costs.”
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has been led by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig since 2018.
“Thank you to President Trump and [Iowa] Gov. [Kim] Reynolds for taking action to provide temporary fuel tax relief for Iowa farmers during the busy harvest season,” said Secretary Naig. “Diesel is a major expense, especially at a time when farmers are facing tight margins, high input costs, and uncertainty in the farm economy. Allowing farmers expanded use of off-road diesel could lead to significant savings this fall, providing financial relief when they need it most.”
Editor’s note: Some of the previous statements have been edited and/or condensed by Successful Farming for style and clarity.
