Alberta farm diesel prices jump 9% in a month as machinery costs hold near record highs

Marked diesel fuel for Alberta farms averaged $193.74 per 100 litres in September 2026, a rise of nearly $16 from August and well above the $121.62 recorded in September 2025, according to Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation's September 2026 farm input price report, published Oct. 27.

Marked gasoline came in at $137.30 per 100 litres, down from $145.59 in August but still roughly 22 cents higher than a year earlier. Propane averaged $67.15 per 100 litres, up slightly from August's $66.03.

The survey, conducted in the first week of each month, tracks provincial averages across dozens of farm inputs. Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation said in its report that most agricultural inputs were in good supply across the province in September, with some exceptions in some areas.

Large equipment prices remained near recent highs. A new Class 8 combine averaged $1,062,054.03 in September, compared with $1,025,515.57 a year earlier. A new self-propelled sprayer with a 100-to-120-foot boom averaged $1,002,826.04, while a new air drill in the 50-to-60-foot range averaged $794,746.89. A new four-wheel-drive tractor in the 500-to-600-horsepower range averaged $916,863.67.

Mechanical repair labour for farm machinery averaged $189.54 per hour in September, up from $172.23 the previous September.

Fertilizer prices were mixed. Monoammonium phosphate (11-52-0) rose to $1,458.83 per tonne, its highest level in the survey this year and up from $1,308.21 a year ago. Anhydrous ammonia climbed to $1,453.33 per tonne from $1,359.00 in August. Urea (46-0-0) edged down slightly to $874.16 per tonne from $876.25 in August.

Calf milk replacer continued to climb, reaching $131.25 per 20-kilogram bag in September, compared with $123.69 in August and $105.45 a year earlier. General farm labour averaged $4,149.58 per month, up from $3,881.13 in August.

Feed grain prices showed modest movement. Feed barley averaged $5.40 per bushel, up from $5.31 in August. Feed wheat slipped to $7.19 per bushel from $7.42. Hay priced at the farm gate averaged $170.54 per tonne, continuing a decline from the September 2025 average of $194.77.

The monthly farm input price series, published by Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation's Trade, Economics and Data Analytics Branch in partnership with the Alberta Federation of Agriculture, has tracked Alberta farm input costs since 1976. The province said reported prices are intended as a guide and that actual prices at specific locations may differ from provincial averages.

The October 2026 edition of the survey is expected to be posted to the open.alberta.ca publications page in late November.