Diesel prices in the US are very high now. They are the highest in history.
美国柴油价格现在很高,是历史上最高的。
Many farmers need diesel to run combine harvesters and tractors.
很多农民需要柴油来开联合收割机和拖拉机。
They use these machines to harvest soybeans and corn.
他们要用这些机器收大豆和玉米。
These two are the biggest crops in the US.
这两种是美国最大的农作物。
This year farmers are already having a hard time.
今年农民已经很困难。
The cost of fertilizer, seeds, and equipment has all gone up.
化肥、种子和设备的成本都涨了。
Now diesel is expensive too, and this makes things harder for them.
现在柴油又贵,这让他们更难。
On September 4, the average US diesel price went up to $5.85 a gallon. This was the first time.
9月4日,美国柴油平均价格第一次涨到每加仑5.85美元。
This is the highest price in history.
这是历史上最高的价格。
The reason is that the US and Iran fought a war for six months.
原因是美国和伊朗打了六个月的仗。
This war stopped fuel from moving around the world.
这场战争打乱了全球燃料的运输。
According to AAA, prices kept going up after that.
据AAA数据,之后价格还在涨。
On Friday, the average price reached $6.05 a gallon.
周五平均价格到了每加仑6.05美元。
Paul Mitchell is a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He says these prices are too much to bear.
威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校的教授保罗·米切尔说,这些价格让人受不了。
It is not just harvesting. Moving everything is affected too.
不只是收割,所有东西的运输都受影响。
Jason Kurtz is a farmer in Missouri. He says he paid twice as much for diesel this year as last year.
密苏里州农民杰森·库尔茨说,他今年付的柴油钱是去年的两倍。
His combine uses 200 gallons of fuel every day.
他的联合收割机每天用200加仑燃料。
He expects to run it for 30 days.
他预计要开30天。
He also needs diesel to run a tractor and several trucks.
他还需要柴油来开一台拖拉机和多辆卡车。
Kurtz says they must harvest. They must run these machines. They must use diesel.
库尔茨说,他们必须收割,必须开这些机器,必须用柴油。
So this reduces their profit.
所以这减少了他们的利润。
He says he also pays more for fertilizer and chemicals.
他说,他还要为化肥和化学品付更多钱。
So this year his money is very tight.
所以今年他的钱很紧张。
AAA data says US diesel prices are now 60% higher. They are higher than at the end of February.
据AAA数据,现在美国柴油价格比2月底高60%。
At the end of February, the US and Israel started fighting Iran.
2月底时,美国和以色列开始打伊朗。
At that time, the national average price was about $3.76 per gallon.
当时全国平均价格大约是每加仑3.76美元。
The war stopped oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz easily.
战争让油轮不能顺利通过霍尔木兹海峡。
So the cost of crude oil rose a lot.
原油成本因此大涨。
Mitchell says farms with little money most need to save money to keep running.
米切尔说,缺钱的农场最需要省钱来维持运转。
Kurtz voted for President Trump.
库尔茨曾投票支持特朗普总统。
He says he plans to put off some farm work until later.
他说,他打算把一些农活推迟到以后。
He hopes diesel prices will go down by then.
他希望那时柴油价格会下降。