Stories

Tue, 21 Apr 2026

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 'Price of red diesel is putting us in the red'

Lincolnshire grower says rising costs have forced her to reconsider her son's nursery fees.
The price of red diesel rose to £1.38 after the outbreak of the conflict and remains 56% higher than before the war. Despite a slight decrease following the US and Iran ceasefire announcement, farmers are calling for government help. Harriet White, who farms near Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire, said her family was reconsidering all household expenditure, including nursery fees for their young son. She predicts food shortages due to reduced planting caused by high red diesel prices. Anna Jackson, a 33-year-old farmer from Scunthorpe, is facing unmanageable fertiliser costs, with the price per tonne increasing by 14% since last year. Her business is making cuts, including reducing farm insurance, and she's looking into diversification projects.