US diesel prices hit a record high of $5.85 on average as the Iran war disrupts the flow of fuel worldwide

By The Associated Press
September 4, 2026 | 8:01 AM

CHICAGO (AP) — US diesel prices hit a record high of $5.85 on average as the Iran war disrupts the flow of fuel worldwide.

Farmers turn to perennial grains as one solution to extreme weather

By The Associated Press
September 4, 2026 | 9:14 AM

BELOIT, Kan. (AP) — Bryce Black kneels in a wheat field battered by intense drought. He holds two strands, remarking on how small the seed head is compared with what's normal. After a late October rain last year, the fourth-generation farmer was optimistic about his 1,800 acres (728 hectares) of winter wheat. But a dry winter and spring brought extreme drought when the wheat needed moisture to establish itself. He ended up harvesting about 1,500 acres (607 hectares), but the yield was the lowest he's had since taking over his family's farm in 2017. “It was just a grit your teeth and get through it type of deal,” said Black, who also grows corn, soybeans and milo on his family’s 4,500-acre (1,821 hectare) farm. “It is disheartening, you know? And it’s kind of hard to know what to do.” When these weather events occur, farmers often look for new ways to protect their crops and their bottom line.

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