
October 19th, 2026
Kansas farmer Glenn Brunkow calls this time of year "go time."
Farmers harvest fields and move livestock now.
But this harvest season, diesel prices are more than $2.50 per gallon higher than a year ago.
Costs are rising.
Markets are unpredictable.
Profits are shrinking.
Brunkow is president of the Kansas Farm Bureau.
He said the problems seem to come "from all directions."
The economic strain is a growing political concern for Republicans.
They have long dominated these states.
President Donald Trump is going to Kansas on Monday.
He will go to Iowa later in the week.
He is trying to energize his base.
The midterm elections are in a few weeks.
Republicans are putting money into Senate races in Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa.
They are worried about voter enthusiasm.
In Kansas, Republican Sen. Roger Marshall faces a tough challenge from Democrat Adam Hamilton.
Democrats have not won a Senate election in Kansas in 94 years.
Brunkow said people often ask him a question.
Could economic frustration push Republican farmers to vote for Democrats?
He said he does not think so.
But it lowers farmers' enthusiasm to go to the polls.
Don Hineman is a western Kansas rancher.
He is a former Republican state House majority leader.
He said frustration is growing among GOP voters.
This is not only farmers.
He said farmers understand that Trump's tariffs have hurt their businesses.
Hineman said he is fed up with the Republican Party.
He is willing to consider alternatives.
Debbie Geneva is 61 and lives in Nortonville, Kansas.
She said she has never voted for a Democrat.
But she is undecided about the Senate race.
Diesel averaged $6.30 per gallon nationwide on Friday.
That is more than 70% higher than a year ago.
This comes from AAA.
The USDA projects net farm income will decline by 2.6% this year.
Production expenses will rise by 4.5%.
The Trump administration has tried to ease the burden.
This month, Trump signed an executive order.
It eases limits on the tax-free use of red-dyed diesel.
That came after a $12 billion aid package for farmers.
The package was announced in December.
Brunkow said many farmers "thought it would be better" under Trump.
But he thinks most would still consider him the better choice.
October 19th, 2026

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