SC Lawmakers urge Governor to ease diesel rules for farmers and loggers as fuel prices reach record levels
SC Rep. Richie Yow (Dist. 53)
SC Rep. Cody T. Mitchell (Dist. 65)
Reps. Richie Yow and Cody Mitchell back Corn and Soybean Association’s call for emergency relief during the 2026 harvest
By Stephan Drew, Editor
With diesel prices at the highest level ever recorded in South Carolina, two state lawmakers are asking Gov. Henry McMaster to step in and help farmers get their crops out of the field.
Reps. Richie Yow (District 53, Chesterfield, Darlington & Lancaster Counties) and Cody Mitchell (District 65, Chesterfield, Darlington, Kershaw & Lancaster Counties) sent a joint letter to the governor on Sept. 29. It endorses a request from the South Carolina Corn and Soybean Association for temporary relief from rising diesel costs during the 2026 harvest season. The lawmakers urge the governor to issue an executive order, and the association asks him to consider declaring a state of emergency.
At the center of the request is dyed diesel, the tax-exempt fuel farmers already use in their farm equipment. The lawmakers and the association want the governor to temporarily suspend applicable state penalties for using dyed diesel in vehicles registered for agricultural purposes. That would let farm vehicles run on the same lower-cost fuel.
“This would apply to agriculture and loggers only at this time if the Governor were to issue the declaration,” Mitchell said.
The association’s letter, signed by President Jason Creamer and dated Sept. 24, says South Carolina’s average diesel price is currently $6.08 per gallon, up from $3.44 in 2025. Last week, the state hit its highest diesel price on record, $6.17 per gallon.
The timing, the association says, is especially hard on producers. Harvest is one of the most fuel-intensive periods of the agricultural year, and farmers are already dealing with elevated input costs and challenging commodity markets.
“The rising cost of diesel fuel puts a major financial burden on our farmers,” Yow and Mitchell wrote, adding that they are worried about the threat to family farms and the stability of the local food supply.
The lawmakers noted that farmers in their districts depend on diesel-powered combines, tractors, grain dryers and transport vehicles to bring in their crops.
The request points to a recent action in a neighboring Gulf Coast state. On Sept. 23, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency over diesel fuel supply and temporarily suspended certain state penalties for dyed diesel use in vehicles registered for agricultural and forestry purposes. Qualifying farmers and timber harvesters there may use dyed diesel already held in on-farm and on-site storage through Oct. 22, 2026.
Louisiana acted as its average retail diesel price reached $6.03 per gallon, according to that governor’s office, and as the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported low domestic distillate inventories that are pushing prices up.
“South Carolina farmers deserve the same consideration,” the association wrote, noting that they harvest crops that support the state’s economy and its food and feed supply.
The association acknowledged that federal requirements and tax provisions may also apply to dyed diesel. Louisiana’s order addresses this by directing its Department of Revenue to request federal penalty relief from the Internal Revenue Service. The association encouraged South Carolina to explore a similar approach and pursue every available avenue for relief.
“At a time when every input dollar matters, we believe state government should use every tool available to help reduce unnecessary costs and allow producers to focus on harvesting their crops,” the association’s letter states.
Yow and Mitchell closed their letter by thanking the governor for his leadership and his continued support of agriculture. The association said it would welcome the chance to discuss the issue with the governor’s administration and provide additional information.
As of this writing, the governor has not announced a decision on the request.